Grant PUD's extension request for resource plan denied

EPHRATA - Grant County PUD was denied a one-month extension on Tuesday to file an integrated resource plan with the state Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development.

The plan is intended to guide the utility in finding other power resources for the future.

But the document apparently had some residents worried about the utility's interest in buying power from or becoming a partner in a planned coal-fired power generating plant in Montana.

The worry prompted Grant PUD Commissioner Tom Flint to announce on Monday the utility will not participate in the Highwood Generating Station after expressing interest in the project in June.

Grant PUD General Manager Tim Culbertson added that commissioners instructed staff not to take coal off the table for the future.

Grant PUD commissioners decided to ask the state for the extension on Monday to file the plan after residents complained about a short public comment period before the Sept. 1 deadline.

Commissioners approved a one-month extension so a more in-depth town hall meeting could be held before the plan was officially approved. Commissioners also agreed the plan should be filed if the extension wasn't approved by the state.

On Tuesday, Grant PUD's Power Management Director Kevin Nordt said the extension was denied. The recommendations in the plan are not binding, he said.

Nordt added the PUD didn't recommended to build or acquire anything in the plan.

He also said work regarding Highwood didn't delay work on the plan.

"We talked internally and laid out a structure," Nordt said. "Highwood was not a factor in any sort of delay."

Grant PUD spokesperson Sarah Morford said the utility was more focused on a town hall meeting as an opportunity to talk to the public.

But a public hearing for the plan was on Monday's agenda during the weekly PUD meeting, which apparently caught some residents off-guard. The utility is required to have the plan approved during a public meeting, which is the reason for the hearing, Nordt said.

Cindy Ray of Soap Lake said she felt the whole presentation about the plan was slanted toward coal.

Grant PUD Commissioner Randy Allred said it was clarified during the commissioners' Monday morning meeting the public hadn't been clearly told about the utility's position on Highwood. He later said he didn't have time to review and discuss the plan.

John Glassco of Soap Lake said he was concerned about the lack of public input into the plan. He claimed Chelan County PUD advertised four times about their plan.

"It seems like a hurry-up deal," Glassco said.

Flint said he thought there's been a lot of gray area with the issue, apologized and suggested everyone move forward.

During the discussion about power resources, Culbertson said wind power is still cost competitive and solar "is just not there."

"What are the baseload resources we're going to use in the future?" he asked.

Grant PUD Assistant General Manager Chuck Berrie said the state has "some pretty incredible incentives" and the utility participates in net metering, which credits customers when extra energy is placed on the grid.

Tim Ray asked why everyone was putting in wind turbines if faulty gear boxes are such a problem, referring to comments made by Culbertson at an earlier meeting.

Grant PUD analyst Keith Knitter informed the board and in a sense semi-corrected Culbertson about new gear boxes working better than the old boxes, Grant PUD Commissioner Randy Allred said.

"Everything seems to be tainted against solar and wind," Tim Ray said. "We have to look to the future, not stuff that's old hat."

Commissioner Greg Hansen said he didn't believe the plant hadn't been put to rest until this morning.

"How can I trust you guys when I keep getting these different stories?" Ray asked.

"Wait a minute, I'd like to say something," Culbertson said. "You point your finger at me and make accusations, you know, and I probably ought to keep my mouth shut. You tell me in the last two weeks or months when I've mentioned the Highwood project or said we're going forward with the Highwood project. It hasn't come out of my mouth, it hasn't come out of the commissioners' mouths."

Ray asked "How would we know? This isn't being recorded."

Culbertson said the afternoon meetings are recorded.

He added he realized the plan was probably ambiguous after reading it earlier in the day and seeing Cindy Ray's letter.

Tim Ray also claimed Culbertson previously said he was against wind power, which Culbertson denied.

The plan follows requirements in House Bill 1010, which requires resources planning for various state entities and entails future resource planning as detailed in the state's Energy Independence Act.

"The plan supports the careful examination of all supply-side resource alternatives while recommending emphasis be given to the evaluation of biomass, hydrokinetics, natural gas, nuclear, co-generation and clean coal technologies," according to a utility news release.

A copy of the plan's executive summary is available online at www.gcpud.org.

A town hall meeting for more discussion about the plan's contents hasn't been set, but it expected to happen in late September, Morford said.