Chad Bartram Benton PUD General Manager to Retire - New Manager to Be Appointed (Washington PUD Association)

(KENNEWICK, WA) -- Chad Bartram, Benton PUD General Manager since January 2013, has provided notice to Benton PUD Commissioners of his intention to retire effective February 29, 2020.

At its regular meeting on Tuesday, January 28, the Benton PUD Board of Commissioners plan to introduce a resolution that will lead to the appointment of Rick Dunn as the General Manager effective March 1, 2020. The board anticipates final approval of the appointment at its regular meeting on Tuesday, February 11.

Bartram has been with the District for 19 years holding positions of Director of Finance & Business Services and General Manager. Previously, Bartram worked at Energy Northwest for 15 years and served on active duty as a U.S. Army officer for over 5 years.

Dunn, a native of the Tri-Cities area and graduate of Kiona-Benton High School in Benton City, is currently serving as the Senior Director of Engineering and Power Management and has been with Benton PUD since 2007. In his current role, Dunn is responsible for system engineering, distribution design, conservation and renewable energy programs, and power contracts and analytics. Dunn's previous utility experience includes working at Umatilla Electric Cooperative in Oregon and Salt River Project in Arizona. A graduate of Washington State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering and a Professional Engineer license, Dunn has more than 33 years of electrical power and utility systems engineering and operations experience in both the public and private sectors.

"The Commission is pleased with the strategic direction that has been underway for several years relative to maintaining low retail rates, improving customer service offerings, modernizing our electric system, and implementing advanced technologies" said Jeff Hall, President of the Benton PUD Commission. "We are fortunate to have Rick Dunn who is extremely well-qualified to build on these successes as well as address our next set of strategic challenges including acquisition of capacity resources to meet customer loads, securing power contracts and addressing uncertainty in west coast power markets."

"I am very thankful for having had the opportunity to work with such a great group of dedicated and skilled employees, and a supportive Board of Commissioners," said Bartram. "It is absolutely amazing what our employees have accomplished over the last several years. Under Rick's leadership, I see more great things ahead."

Thirty Utilities Across the State Support Snake River Dams (Franklin PUD, Pasco, WA – Benton PUD, Kennewick, WA)

(PASCO, WA) -- In resolutions highlighting their value to the environment and economy of the Pacific Northwest, thirty utilities across the state of Washington continue to support the four hydroelectric dams on eastern Washington’s Lower Snake River. In recent years, environmental groups have targeted the dams for removal.

Boards of Commissioners for public utility districts, and Boards of Trustees for Cooperatives, as well as cities and Energy Northwest continue to pass resolutions firmly stating that the “removal of elements of the Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS), including the Lower Snake River Dams would negatively impact our utility/city’s responsibility to provide reliable, efficient, clean and affordable power to its customers.”

“Removing the Lower Snake Dams is bad for the state of Washington and the region. Locally they mean efficient energy at an affordable cost and greater energy reliability for Franklin PUD customers,” said Franklin PUD Board President Roger Wright. “But to the region, especially Eastern Washington and the Columbia River Gorge, the impacts are even greater. They impact the lives of thousands of families through irrigation, navigable waterways, and outdoor recreation.”

Without the energy generated by the dams, the reliable flow of energy from the FCRPS would be threatened, a fact illustrated by a 2017 report from the Bonneville Power Administration.

“In January of 2017, when thousands of households across the Northwest needed power to stay warm, the output from wind generators varied from 3000 to 74 megawatts. Those are not numbers you can plan on to reliably power homes and businesses. At that same time, the Lower Snake Dams were generating nearly 1300 megawatts,” stated Dave Ward, General Manager, Grays Harbor PUD in Aberdeen, WA.

As the state moves closer to its new clean energy era there is increasing uncertainty in how utilities will provide reliable electric service. The biggest change is the rapid retirement and planned shutdown of coal‐fired power plants from the northwest power grid. The Northwest Power and Conservation Council (NWPCC) Power Supply Adequacy Assessment for 2024 identified the possibility that as much as 4,800 megawatts of coal‐fired generating capacity (equivalent to four Columbia Generating Station nuclear plants) could be retired in the region between now and 2028 and that without utility actions to build new plants with the ability to run during peak electricity demand scenarios, there could be a 26% probability by 2026 that grid operators may have to resort to some level of blackouts to maintain power grid stability. “Removal of the Snake River dams will erode the clean power supply portfolio that 135 BPA customers rely upon,” said Benton PUD Commissioner Jeff Hall. “Where will BPA customers turn to make up for the loss of this low‐cost baseload power supply?”

Proponents of dam removal often cite the impact the dams have on the salmon runs that Southern Resident Killer Whales rely on for survival. Numerous studies dispute that claim including fact sheets from NOAA Fisheries, the federal agency responsible for the recovery and livelihood of salmon.

Operators of hydroelectric facilities spend billions of dollars on programs to allow dams to coexist with the environment. Those programs have made a real difference, and dams and salmon can and do coexist. NOAA Fisheries reports show strong numbers of salmon making it downriver to the ocean and increasing numbers making it back upriver to spawn. To remove those dams would be a shortsighted error, driven by emotion rather than the facts.

Studies carried out by several groups including NOAA and the Environmental Protection Agency have shown that predation, ocean conditions, pollution and other factors have greater, far-reaching effects on salmon over their lifespan than the relatively brief period they spend around hydroelectric dams.

Many of the resolutions also highlight the irony that comes from the State Legislature passing a bill calling for a 100% emissions-free power system by 2045 called the Clean Energy Transformation Act, or CETA, while at the same time, environmental groups are seeking to dismantle parts of the infrastructure that make that clean, carbon‐free energy possible.

“Washington is leading the way in clean energy because of hydropower and yet there are those who would seek to cut the knees out of that system,” said Skolrood, Grays Harbor PUD Commissioner. We have made huge strides toward a 100% clean energy industry. Why in the world would we want to start moving backwards?”

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Mike Gonzalez Named New Senior Manager of Public Affairs at Franklin PUD (Franklin PUD, Pasco, WA)

(PASCO, WA) -- Franklin PUD (Pasco, Wash.) welcomes Mike Gonzalez as the new senior manager of public affairs. Gonzalez will be responsible for advocating Franklin PUD’s policy positions; developing and maintaining positive customer relationships; identifying and promoting priorities important to the electric industry today. He will also be responsible for Franklin PUD’s communication strategy, ensuring that the needs of their diverse customer base are met.

Gonzalez was most recently the 4 p.m. news anchor at the NBC affiliate in Phoenix, Ariz. He also has strong ties in the Tri-Cities where he was the news director and evening anchor at KAPP/KVEW ABC. There he managed daily operations, branding, and marketing for the news department in their Tri-Cities and Yakima bureaus. He also spent nearly seven years at KXLY ABC in Spokane as a morning and primary evening news anchor. He also held executive producer and managing editor roles in Raleigh, N.C., where he worked at WNCN NBC.

In his spare time, he loves spending time with his wife and three kids and blogging about food. “I’m so grateful to start the next chapter of my career here in eastern Washington and look forward to being a part of the Franklin PUD team as we serve our community” said Gonzalez.

Study: U.S. Would Lose Over $2.3 Billion by Breaching Lower Snake River Dams (Pacific Northwest Waterways Association)

Loss of dams would also significantly increase carbon emissions and impacts to fragile economies

(PORTLAND, OR) – The removal of four lower Snake River dams would cost the U.S. over $2.3 billion over the next 30 years, lead to significant additional carbon emissions that contribute to climate change, and jeopardize health, safety and livelihoods in already economically fragile local and regional economies, according to an independent evaluation commissioned by the Pacific Northwest Waterways Association.

The study was performed by financial and economic consultants FCS Group to assess several impacts that would result if barging on the Snake River is lost. Significant additional effects due to the loss of hydropower, irrigation and other authorized uses would also occur, but are not captured in this targeted report.

Carbon emissions equivalent to the cumulative emissions generated by a Boardman coal-fired power plant every 5-6 years would result. Breaching the Snake River dams would cause diesel fuel consumption to increase by nearly 5 million gallons per year as barges are replaced by less efficient truck-to-rail shipments. At least 201 additional unit trains and 23.8 million miles in additional trucking activity would be required annually, resulting in increases in CO2 and other harmful emissions by over 1.2 million tons per year.

Transportation and storage expense will likely increase 50% to 100% for grain suppliers and shippers. At the current reported “break even” cost per bushel of $5.00, the transportation/storage cost is now approximately $0.40 per bushel of wheat. These costs could increase by up to $0.80 per bushel with barging removed as a transportation option.

If farm subsidies are not increased, over 1,100 farms may be at risk of bankruptcy. Average regional net farm cash income was only $42,825 in 2017. With wheat prices already down near the break-even point, the federal government would need to increase annual direct payments to farmers by up to $38.8 million to maintain current income levels.

Highway, rail and grain elevator networks would need over $1.6 billion in capital investment. If barging were removed from the Snake River, new infrastructure or costly upgrades would be needed to accommodate the displaced cargo. This includes hundreds of miles of shortline rail track that have been abandoned, new rail, major highway improvements, and retrofits for grain elevators that do not have rail loading capabilities.

Essential health, sanitation and safety would be jeopardized, along with other public services. As observed in the 1992 Snake River drawdown experiment, existing wastewater infrastructure is likely to be damaged or rendered useless if the river level drops, requiring new investments in water intakes, filtration and pumping/transmission systems for a number of cities, counties and major industrial businesses. Roadways, public docks and other infrastructure that are adjacent to the river would also be damaged or rendered useless. Safety is also a major concern, with additional rail and truck traffic leading to corresponding increases in accidents and fatalities.

The impacts would be socially unjust and target fragile economies. The 10 counties most impacted by a dam breaching scenario are primarily rural areas in which 1 in 5 people are already at or below the federal poverty level, and average wages are 25% below the national average. Dam breaching would have a negative regional economic impact on agriculture, manufacturing, transportation, warehousing and tourism businesses that are physically or functionally related to freight movement and river access.

“Dam breaching extremists talk about how easy and inexpensive it would be to compensate Washington, Oregon and Idaho businesses and residents if the lower Snake River dams were removed,” said PNWA Executive Director Kristin Meira. “We commissioned this study to show federal and state decision makers the real economic and environmental impacts on real people and communities that would result.”

The complete study is available on the PNWA website at https://www.pnwa.net/energy-salmon/.

WPUDA's George Caan Tapped to Serve on Energy Strategy Advisory Committee (Washington PUD Association)

(OLYMPIA, WA) -- Washington PUD Association Executive Director, George Caan, was selected to serve on the State Energy Strategy Advisory Committee. The Committee was established by the Clean Energy Transformation Act of 2019 (CETA) to work with the State Department of Commerce in updating the state's energy strategy.

CETA requires Commerce to review the state energy strategy by the end of 2020 and at least once every eight years thereafter. 

The committee will provide guidance to the department in conducting the review and includes representatives from utilities, energy users, the cities and counties, tribes, the clean energy industry, labor unions, civic organizations, environmental organizations, independent power producers, the Utilities and Transportation Commission, the Power Planning Council, and the two largest caucuses of the Senate. 

The committee will provide advice and recommendations for revisions to the energy strategy which the Department of Commerce will use in developing a written report to be submitted to the Governor and appropriate legislative committees. 

The committee will hold its first meeting on January 10th in SeaTac.  

Temporary Speed Limit Reduction Comes to SR 3 Near Belfair (Washington State Department of Transportation)

(BELFAIR, WA) – Travelers will soon notice new speed limit signs on State Route 3 near Belfair in Mason County. 

The Washington State Department of Transportation will temporarily reduce the speed limit from 50 mph to 35 mph and 25 mph between milepost 27.2 and 28.6 in advance of Mason Transit’s construction project.

The speed limit reduction is located in a roughly one-mile work zone where crews working for Mason Transit will build the SR 3/Log Yard roundabout and park and ride project.

The reduced speed limit will remain in place through project completion. The lowered speed limit is enforceable when signs are posted.