GRC 2012 planning session--green power conversation
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bruce bassett
Sep 28, 2011, 5:26:35 PM9/28/11
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Hi all,
I talked to Heather Mulligan at PSE today about the Green Power program. Here are the key points:
Greatly simplified, PSE is driven by three mandates:
1. General Utility mandate to provide consistent power at the lowest possible cost.
2. Washington State RCW 19.29A.090, enacted in 2001, requires all utilities with more than 25,000 customers to offer a green power program. The law disallows any mingling of costs or benefits between this program and other elements of PSE's business. So Heather essentially runs a non-profit business within, but separate from, PSE. PSE has found that this has allowed them to support green power projects (like Dairy manure digesters) that would be too small for their normal power acquisition needs. And it also produces power closer to the users.
3. Initiative 937, which requires utilities to have growing Renewable Portfolios. By the end of this year, PSE must be at 3% renewable and is achieving that through development of wind farms (they now have three). PSE cannot claim Green Power toward its renewable portfolio--again because the RCW disallows mixing of costs and benefits.
I think she has solid answers to the concerns that were raised at our last meeting. And I've taken the liberty of inviting her to attend a portion of our next meeting so she can answer your questions directly and speak about the form a Green Power Challenge could take. Our meeting is 5-7pm on Oct. 11 and I've suggested she come at 5:30 and be available for up to 30 minutes (but much less if we only have a few questions). Please speak up if you think she should not attend. I'll take no offense.
Best regards,
Bruce
--
Bruce Bassett
206-232-8148
bruc...@gmail.com
I talked to Heather Mulligan at PSE today about the Green Power program. Here are the key points:
Greatly simplified, PSE is driven by three mandates:
1. General Utility mandate to provide consistent power at the lowest possible cost.
2. Washington State RCW 19.29A.090, enacted in 2001, requires all utilities with more than 25,000 customers to offer a green power program. The law disallows any mingling of costs or benefits between this program and other elements of PSE's business. So Heather essentially runs a non-profit business within, but separate from, PSE. PSE has found that this has allowed them to support green power projects (like Dairy manure digesters) that would be too small for their normal power acquisition needs. And it also produces power closer to the users.
3. Initiative 937, which requires utilities to have growing Renewable Portfolios. By the end of this year, PSE must be at 3% renewable and is achieving that through development of wind farms (they now have three). PSE cannot claim Green Power toward its renewable portfolio--again because the RCW disallows mixing of costs and benefits.
I think she has solid answers to the concerns that were raised at our last meeting. And I've taken the liberty of inviting her to attend a portion of our next meeting so she can answer your questions directly and speak about the form a Green Power Challenge could take. Our meeting is 5-7pm on Oct. 11 and I've suggested she come at 5:30 and be available for up to 30 minutes (but much less if we only have a few questions). Please speak up if you think she should not attend. I'll take no offense.
Best regards,
Bruce
--
Bruce Bassett
206-232-8148
bruc...@gmail.com
Cheryl Marshall
Sep 28, 2011, 10:17:31 PM9/28/11
to bruc...@gmail.com, mi-grc-wor...@googlegroups.com
Hi Bruce,
Thank you for this information. It does
address and remove my concerns. For me the questions are covered and I
don't have other questions for PSE at this time. I don't see a need
for her to come, but perhaps others of you will.
Best... Cheryl
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