Grant PUD discusses energy conservation

GRANT COUNTY — Grant County PUD commissioners learned about conserving energy as part of Initiative 937.

Commissioners listened to a presentation regarding the Energy Independence Act, or I-937, Monday.

A public hearing followed the presentation.

Energy conservation measures are targeted toward saving an estimated 262,717 megawatt hours of power in 10 years.

PUD Senior Resource Analyst Alex Ybarra said the PUD is required to submit a 10-year plan for ?energy conservation by Jan. 1, 2010.

High efficiency washing machines, Energy Star rated refrigerators, residential HVAC system conversions, weatherization upgrades and high efficiency window upgrades are some of the program suggested for residential homes. 

Other measures include irrigation hardware for agriculture and dairy industries, above-code lighting equipment for new commercial building construction, compact fluorescent lights and irrigation water management.

A draft of the plan was submitted to the commission in September.

The commission will consider a resolution to adopt the plan in November. The first conservation report is June 1, 2012.

Ybarra said the PUD chose to document conservation targets using a conservation calculator developed by the Northwest Power and Conservation Council. The calculator allows the PUD to meet its target while staying within its budget for funding conservation measures. In addition, the calculator takes advantage of credits offered through the Bonneville Power Administration.

PUD Manager Tim Culbertson asked Ybarra whether the PUD could bank its energy savings if it exceeded its conservation goal.

Ybarra said the savings could be applied to future targets.

PUD Commission President Terry Brewer asked whether new measures could be added to the list.

“In two years, if we see a program that we want to put in there, then we can,” Ybarra said.

Soap Lake resident John Glassco spoke during the public hearing in support of a local plan for conserving energy.

Glassco noted a building utilizing geothermal power is in the area.

“I would think the PUD could be involved with things like insulated curtains,” he said.

The curtains could be manufactured locally, he said.

Another idea is to transform waste energy into liquid fuel, Glassco said.

He also spoke about generating enthusiasm in the community for energy saving programs.

He said a contest could be offered to encourage local ideas.