Commissioner, BPA veteran vie for PUD seat

A power insider is going up against longtime Clark Public Utilities Commissioner Jane Van Dyke this November. Gordon Matthews is a three-decade Bonneville Power Administration veteran, hoping to bring his experience in the industry to the board, on which Van Dyke has sat for roughly 30 years. Van Dyke is a lawyer by training with experience leading nonprofits, while Matthews is an engineer who worked on technology, corporate strategy, business practices and rate design at BPA. The three members of Clark Public Utilities’ board of commissioners serve six-year terms, which are staggered so no two commissioners run simultaneously. Commissioners set policies, approve investments, adopt budgets and vote on rate changes but aren’t involved in the day-to-day operation of the utility. The candidates align on several issues — both oppose coal-fired power, both are interested in evaluating geothermal energy and both praised the utility’s staff and customer service. While Van Dyke tends to favor the utility’s current path to rely more on BPA and continue looking for additional power, Matthews is fearful the utility is leaning too heavily on the federal agency. “There’s just not going to always be enough hydro to go around,” Matthews said during a recent Columbian Editorial Board meeting. Clark Public Utilities’ new power contract with BPA means if there isn’t enough hydropower, BPA will buy power on the market, passing those costs onto consumers, Matthews said. Van Dyke said the utility has managed change before, building its River Road Generating Plant to be less reliant on BPA, and now the utility is buying more from BPA with its new contract. That’s in addition to generation from River Road and a contract for power from the Box Canyon Dam in Eastern Washington, Van Dyke said. “So we have power out to about 2032,” she said. Challenges Matthews pointed to several challenges facing the region — a growing population, continued electrification and warmer springs melting snowpacks that power the Columbia River’s hydro systems before the warm summer months when the region needs the power. He said the utility needs to continue adding more solar and wind variable renewables to balance with additional power BPA can provide. “We need something that can go up when variables go down, and vice versa, to keep voltage flat,” Matthews said. He wants Washington public utilities to partner on larger renewable projects. The candidates diverged on community solar, an area where Matthews thinks the utility could take a more aggressive approach. Van Dyke said the utility is looking to partner on local projects that could pencil out. Clark Public Utilities launched its first community solar project in 2015. The project allowed customers to invest in a solar panel and to have their bill credited with the energy generated from that panel. The most recent solar projects have been in conjunction with regional ports. “We haven’t had another bridge to cross yet, but I think it’s going to happen,” she said. Matthews, meanwhile, wants Clark Public Utilities to partner with other Eastern Washington utilities on community solar projects in a region with a plethora of sunlight. Land is also cheaper in those areas, Matthews said. The utility recently signed a power purchase agreement for a commercial solar development in Eastern Oregon. But Matthews said a community solar project would be cheaper. “If you buy it in collaboration with the public, that operates at cost,” he said. “That’s going to be the lowest price that you’re going to find.” Water system, staff Clark Public Utilities also provides water to some 41,000 Clark County customers. The commissioners passed a rate increase last fall and are expected to again. Those increases are set to cover capital upgrades on the water system. Both Van Dyke and Matthews praised the utility’s water system and its staff. “We’re in excellent shape,” Van Dyke said. Matthews agreed. Matthews has raised $23,125, though nearly all of that was donations from himself, according to the Washington Public Disclosure Commission. Van Dyke, meanwhile, has raised $7,145 — $3,200 from herself and the rest from individuals including current Clark County Auditor Greg Kimsey and environmental attorney David McDonald. While the candidates are running to represent the 3rd District, which includes most of west and central Vancouver, all Clark County voters will have a chance to vote on the race. The election is Nov. 3 with ballots mailed Oct. 16.

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