PUD sees growth in renewable energy program returns

At Tuesday's meeting of the Wahkiakum PUD board of commissioners, Auditor Erin Wilson reported that the PUD would pay out nearly $30,000 total to 13 customers participating in a renewable energy program this year.

The payments are used as a credit towards the PUD electric excise tax, which she said averages between $8,000 and $17,000 per month.

Commissioner Bob Jungers noted that it was money that stayed in the county instead of going to Olympia.

“I never thought we’d have that many [people participating] in Wahkiakum County," Commissioner Dennis Reid said. “We’ve got them and it seems like it’s working well for them.”

Wilson said that 2016 was the first year that anyone locally participated in the program and the PUD paid out a little over $2,100 that year.

Reid encouraged the PUD to consider doing a little bit each year to work on getting water to Deep River.

“I think we need to have some kind of plan we can submit and get on a list at Public Works so if money ever does come available, we can get some,” Reid said.

“I’ll definitely put some thought into that,” General Manager Dave Tramblie replied.

Tramblie said he had recently brought in a specialist to help the PUD address problems with high water pressure on Puget Island.

“Long story short, he made some adjustments that I believe should alleviate the events that have occurred that created the high pressure,” Tramblie said. “We think we have it resolved.”

He also reported that the Skamokawa Water Project was progressing.

“I think there have been a few minor hiccups and they are behind schedule by a day or two,” Tramblie said, "but outside of that, they’re moving right along.”

Broadband consultant Steve Carson gave an update on grant applications. The PUD will have to resubmit for a Community Economic Revitalization Board construction grant after learning that the guidelines for the application were far more specific than they were initially lead to believe.

“We will be applying in another two months,” Carson said, “but the good news is it will allow us to be very specific with what we’ve got from the Public Works Board.”

Meanwhile, the PUD is still looking for other grants and waiting to hear if they’ve received any funding from the Public Works Board.

The meeting was closed for an executive session to discuss potential litigation.