As a grandfather, I look at the world we are leaving our future generations.
We are in a climate change crisis, but you wouldn’t know it from watching the current Clallam County Public Utility commission.
That’s why it’s time for a change, and we need Ken Hays as our next PUD commissioner.
Hays is challenging 20-year incumbent Will Purser, who worked for Shell Oil, and whose voting record shows little interest in exploring renewable energy other than relying on Bonneville Power Administration and doing the minimum required by law.
We should do more to fix the global crisis.
But why does this matter to the North Peninsula?
We are at the end of a regional transmission line and should develop some local energy independence.
We have the sunniest area of western Washington, steady winds up the Strait and vigorous tidal exchange.
There is so much potential to explore for improving our local energy capacity.
And there are great models to explore for the role the PUD could play.
In the San Francisco Bay Area, a public utility is partnering to redevelop old houses with solar power to create a virtual power plant.
There are new approaches to financing solar to make it easier for homeowners to install rooftop panels.
Technology keeps improving, with new and cheaper energy generation being invented.
For the future of our children and grandchildren, and for a resilient local economy and energy independence, we need new ideas, not business as usual.
Vote Ken Hays for a change.
Paul Pickett
Port Angeles