Grant PUD opposed to certain I-937 changes

EPHRATA - A push by some Washington state utilities to stop a state requirement to build or buy renewable resources in advance is not supported by Grant County PUD.

The requirement is part of Initiative 937, which was approved by Washington voters in 2006.

I-937 requires certain utilities with 25,000 or more customers to meet targets for energy conservation and the use of renewable energy resources to avoid paying penalties.

One energy source, hydropower, isn't considered renewable under state and federal law.

With the help of its two dams, Grant PUD produces hydropower for Grant County residents and other power purchasers to bring electricity to customers in Central Washington and the Pacific Northwest.

State and federal laws concerning hydropower were discussed during a recent Grant PUD commission meeting.

The district supports a bipartisan federal bill sponsored by Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., making hydropower a renewable resource, according to information provided by Andrew Munro, Grant PUD's external affairs director.

Grant PUD commissioner Tom Flint asked if the federal bill was made into a law, if it would have an impact with how Washington state deals with the issue.

In response, Grant PUD General Manager Tim Culbertson discussed the  status of modifying Washington state's I-937.

Some of the proposed changes include relieving an aspect of the initiative to buy or build resources in advance of need, according to Thomas Stredwick, a district spokesperson.

As it stands now, Stredwick said he thought 15 percent of the district's electricity must come from renewable energy sources by the year 2020. The requirement is carried out in incremental 3 percent steps to reach 9 percent by 2016.

The district is currently working toward meeting I-937's requirement of 3 percent and won't support legislation modifying the initiative, Stredwick explained.

Currently, I-937 requires utilities to have a certain amount of renewable generation whether they need it or not, Culbertson explained.

Benton County PUD and Franklin County PUD are pushing a bill in which  utilities wouldn't have to build in advance of need, he said.

The proposed bill would say if there isn't a requirement, one doesn't have to go out and acquire renewable resources.

"We don't think it's likely to go anywhere without a bump to that standard," he commented.

Culbertson said he's heard other public utilities say they would agree to a bump in the standards if their needs are met.

"We've made it very clear we're opposed to anything that's requiring an increase in the standards," he said.

He spoke of remaining neutral in the issue.