Commission recap, 6/25/2024 — Grant PUD apprentices move ahead. Future to include wind, solar. More...

Thursday, 27 June 2024

(Note: We'll post the audio timestamps as soon as the commission recording becomes available. Sorry for the delay.)

Commissioners kicked off their June 25, 2024 meeting by celebrating the 14 employees since the COVID pandemic ended who had successfully completed three-year apprenticeships for careers as Grant PUD power plant operators, power system electricians, linemen, electronic technicians and meter relay technicians.

“Grant County has always wanted to be in control of its own destiny and not be reliant on anyone else,” Commission President Tom Flint told the gathered employees and their supervisors. “That’s the heritage quality reflected in Grant PUD and staff. Congratulations!”

The graduates received the training they needed to take their journey level exams. They’re now embarking on the next level of their careers and will begin passing on their knowledge and experience to new generations of apprentice hopefuls, Casey Raab, Apprenticeship & Workforce Development Program Manager, told commissioners.

“Going through an apprenticeship is an excellent opportunity and a rewarding experience but requires great determination and hard work,” Raab said.

Many begin their training with a six-month trial period to be sure a craft position is a good fit. If they meet their journeyman and supervisors’ expectations, they’re admitted to the three-year, 6,000-hour apprentice training program.

Commissioners encourage and enthusiastically support Grant PUD’s efforts to hire locally and promote from within to cultivate employees who want to stay and grow with the Grant PUD over the course of their careers.

“What we gain are well-rounded, qualified and competent journeymen to perform tasks in specialized fields,” Raab said. “You cannot get that type of training unless you go through an apprenticeship.”

The “graduates” are: Power Plant Operators Aaron Elston, Jose Valle and Cory Keller; Electronic Technicians Bart Knoll and Igor Babak; Power System Technicians Blake Reeves, Dakota Delong and Shane Melseth; Meter Relay Technician Stephen Correl; and Linemen Carson Fisk, Parker Ball, Santana Echavarria, Tanner Pugh and Tyler Kautz.

Solar, wind, purchased power and planning will keep lights on in Grant County

Grant PUD will add solar, more wind, purchased power and partnerships to supplement its flagship hydropower and keep the lights on for Grant County customers from 2025 to 2045.

That’s the forecast that analysts laid out for commissioners Tuesday in the draft 2024 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), a state-required document that describes the utility’s expected need for electricity into the future and where it’s going to come from to supply customers at the lowest reasonable cost.

The state Department of Commerce requires a new plan every four years, with updates every two years, Grant PUD Chief Commercial Officer John Mertlich, told commissioners. Forecasts are based on computer modeling of the utility’s need for electricity. Staff research informs a plan of how to best meet needs.

The analysis shows that Grant PUD will need more electricity, on average, than its dams can provide as soon as 2025. The utility will fill the gap by taking measures that include:

Continuing to sell surplus power forward to lock in predictable prices on Grant PUD’s own hydropower.
Purchasing wind and solar power from existing or expected suppliers.
Contracting to buy power from third parties, as needed.
Joining the Western Resource Adequacy Program (WRAP), a group of western utilities who’ve agreed to pool and share electricity surplus to their needs.
Paying energy-intense local industry in Grant County to power down during times of peak energy demand to use that electricity to meet remaining customer demand.
Ensuring that the utility meets state-imposed targets to remove air-polluting carbon from its energy supply by 2045.

“Our portfolio is going from something that is, basically, 100% hydro to something that is much more balanced (with other resources), Lisa Stites, Grant PUD lead financial analyst, told commissioners.

Commissioners and the public will get additional looks at the draft IRP at a commission meeting on 6/25/2024 and a public hearing on 7/23/2024, both at Grant PUD’s Ephrata headquarters. The plan must be submitted to the state Department of Commerce on 9/1/2024.

For reference, the 2022 Integrated Resource Plan is posted on the Grant PUD website, www.grantpud.org/powering-our-future. The presentation materials of each upcoming public meeting or hearing will also be posted. Staff is accepting public comment on the plan by email, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

See the full presentation on draft IRP on pages 50-84 of the presentation materials. Hear the discussion at _____ on the commission audio.

Commissioners also:

Received a quarterly update on Grant PUD plans to continue improving emergency response for enhanced resiliency. See the full presentation on pages 85-97 of the presentation materials. Hear the discussion at _____ on the commission audio.
Heard that a push to better inform the children and young adults of the job opportunities that exist at Grant PUD will be part of ongoing “Employee Experience” efforts to ensure that people already employed have access to education and tools they need to pursue their career goals and achieve job satisfaction at the utility. See the full presentation on pages 30-49 of the presentation materials. Hear the discussion at _____ on the commission audio.
Unanimously approved Resolution 9055 amending Grant PUD’s 10-year conservation potential and two-year conservation target as required by the voter-approved Energy Independence Act. For more information, see pages 9-81 in the commission packet.
Unanimously approved Motion 3480 to increase a contract with Universal Protection Services by $3 million for a new two-year extension to July 2, 2026. The company provides 24/7 security services to Grant PUD dams and facilities and adds staff to help cover the busy summer season at Grant PUD recreation areas. The new contract contains a 12% overall increase to keep up with inflation and market rates. For more information, see pages 82-95 in the commission packet.
Unanimously approved Motion 3481 to execute a contract with the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) in an amount not to exceed $4,162,831 to continue its operation and maintenance of Grant PUD’s Priest Rapids Hatchery from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2027. For more information, see pages 96-151 in the commission packet.
Unanimously approved Motion 3482 to execute a contract with the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) in an amount not to exceed $1, 295,801, with a contract completion date of June 30, 2027, to perform monitoring and evaluation of fall Chinook salmon at Grant PUD’s Priest Rapids Hatchery. For more information, see pages 96-151 in the commission packet.