Testimonials

Jared Balcom of Pasco agribusiness Balcom & Moe said coming increases in Franklin PUD rates will cost his business an additional $25,000 per year. The company spends about $500,000 per year on electricity to irrigate fields. "Twenty-five thousand dollars a year is very similar to hiring a person," Balcom said. "We're essentially taking a wage and paying it to the utility district."

"One of our chief concerns on the existing legislation (I-937) is the mandate to purchase new renewable power that is much more expensive, and not always needed to serve customers. In a down economy like this, more and more utilities across the state, including our local utilities, at this point in time don’t need this additional mandated power. Higher energy costs impact existing businesses, impact agriculture, and they make it difficult to expand the local economy.”

~Carl Adrian, TRIDEC President and CEO

“It doesn’t make sense to require utilities to buy power they don’t need. Conservation helps our clients because it’s the least cost most environmentally friendly of all the resources. Electric rates hurt and when rates go up low-income families get hurt when their power is turned off because of the inability to pay. They cannot afford an increase.”

~Judith Gidley, Benton Franklin Community Action Committee Executive Director

"Eastern Washington is one of the premiere places for growing food...that takes significant capital and lots of electricity. From 2008 to 2011, we have seen a 24% increase in the costs of electricity. I am greatly concerned that 2012 and thereafter we will see continued increases as we look at these initiatives and other sources of electricity. When my rate goes up, I find places to cut and a lot of that is in labor. I believe whatever jobs are created through some of this development of some acceptable energy sources, we will lose more jobs and the economy will be hurt by that."

~Tom Mackay, AgriNorthwest CFO

"The cost of I-937 has become a reality for me and my business. As a result of the passage of this initiative I will be paying almost $100 a month more this year on my electric bill to over the renewable requirements. This is why I support the efforts of the Tri-City Regional Chamber and the Citizens for Protecting Our Washington Energy Rates coalition. We need to change our states' renewable energy mandate to protect businesses like mine."

~ Steve Simmons, Owner of County Gentleman Restaurant and Catering in Kennewick, WA