PORT ANGELES — Candidates for Clallam County Public Utility District commissioner sparred during a League of Women Voters forum, with six-term incumbent Ted Simpson and challenger Jim Waddell differing on how to work with the Bonneville Power Administration.
Waddell said he’d take a tough stance with the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) and fight back when the government proposes higher rates while Simpson, who has served as a commissioner since 1894, said the BPA does an “awesome job.”
The forum was held at Peninsula College’s Little Theater on Wednesday evening.
Waddell said the BPA’s fees make up about 60 percent of PUD customers’ utility bill and described increasing fees as a result of the BPA’s “financial crisis.”
He said green energy would be a solution to reduce fees and that would be his top priority as a commissioner.
Waddell doesn’t see hydropower as a green energy source, saying it releases methane.
“It’s important to recognize that Bonneville Power is a marketing agency for hydro power,” he said. “As a marketing agency they do everything they possibly can to push hydro power — no matter what it costs — at us.”
Simpson emphasized that PUDs operate as not-for-profits and that rates are generated based on the PUD’s costs.
He said the BPA is responsible for making sure the power is there when people turn on their lights.
“Jim has been critical of Bonneville, but they do a heck of a job,” Simpson said. “Their costs are astronomical, but that’s part of the cost of doing business.”
Waddell said PUD should create more incentives for customers to add solar power. Waddell, who uses solar power, said it was difficult to install his panels because of the number of rules and said he’s heard from others who share that frustration.
Waddell said there is plenty of opportunity in Eastern Washington for more wind power. He said that is also the “perfect place” for solar power.
He said solar power is waiting to be added to the BPA’s power grid, but that there isn’t room because of the amount of hydropower.
Simpson said Clallam County PUD is already making strides on solar power.
“Clallam County PUD has over 300 solar generators on its system right now,” Simpson said. “There’s only one other PUD in the state that has more, and it’s not much.”
Simpson said PUD attempted at one point to build a solar farm near Sequim, but that the effort failed.
“We’re trying to accommodate wherever we can for people who would like to do that,” he said. “Again, this is a system. You don’t want people putting into your system when you don’t need it.”
The two also differed on whether they support Initiative 1631, which would introduce a fee on carbon emissions.
Earlier this month Clallam PUD commissioners voted 3-0 approving a resolution in opposition to I-1631.
Waddell said none of the initiatives he has seen are perfect, but that he supports I-1631.
“On the surface of it, we need to support any kind of effort,” he said. “None of them are perfect and so we need to go ahead and get started on some of these things and work the bugs out as we go along.”
He said the PUD can integrate green technologies and work to reduce rates on its own, instead of waiting for legislation.
Simpson said that though he opposes the initiative, he supports the effort of trying to decrease carbon emissions.
“It’s how they wanted to use the funds,” he said. “It gets put into a commissioner of 15 people the governor appoints and they decide how to spend that money.”
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Reporter Jesse Major can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56250, or at jmajor@peninsuladailynews.com.
