One of three commissioners who direct Clark Public Utilities faces a challenger in a former science teacher and environmental activist this November.
During an Oct. 3 candidate forum hosted by the League of Women Voters of Clark County, incumbent Clark County Public Utility District 2 Commissioner Nancy Barnes participated alongside challenger Don Steinke. While Barnes focused on the utility’s stability in rates and reliability, Steinke pushed on CPU to commit more to the use of renewable energy.
Barnes was first elected to the commissioner’s seat in 1992.
Steinke took aim at the utility’s fossil-fuel-fired plant on Lower River Road, which has been in operation since shortly after she joined the board in 1994.
Steinke spent decades teaching science in Clark County before he retired, and more recently has focused on campaigns against proposed fossil fuel projects. He said he wanted to roll out an ambitious program to transition more to solar energy to reduce the need of the plant on Lower River Road.
Barnes said the plant accounts for about 28% of the utility’s generated electricity, alongside 60% from hydroelectricity, 7% from nuclear power, 3% from wind and about 10% from market purchases from a variety of sources. She said some customers who participate in community solar projects receive credits back on what they generate.
The candidates were asked about the use of “smart meters,” which track energy usage. Barnes explained the utility set aside $30 million earlier this year to convert its customers’ existing meters to the new technology, which she said would allow for lower utility rates for use at non-peak times.
Steinke said although the investment is good, CPU is 10 to 12 years behind on the change’s implementation.
Regarding environmentalism efforts, Barnes said the utility is active in habitat restoration, which includes stream cleanup and tree planting. CPU also supports events like the Home and Garden Ideas Fair, fishing derbies and supports Columbia Springs.
Steinke said those activities distract from the utility’s use of the Lower River Road plant, which he said accounts for 550,000 tons of pollutants per year. He said Barnes “never expressed any concern for climate change.”
“If you don’t think that climate change is the biggest issue of our time, well you’re in league with my opponent,” Steinke said.
Barnes said a few years ago the Bonneville Power Administration, which provides hydropower to CPU, transferred contract risk onto utilities. CPU budgeted accordingly to plan for worst-case scenarios. That in turn created a regular surplus, which she said is invested back to customers through credits. This year, the surplus was used for the smart meter project.
Steinke said CPU’s use of surpluses as rate stabilization is a smart idea. He would like to see use of that surplus go toward conservation efforts more.
“My priority has always been and continues to be our customers,” Barnes said, adding she didn’t represent any special interest or cause.
She noted utility rates have not risen in 12 years, adding incentives for renewable energy programs could impact their ability to maintain low rates.
“I will not go to our customers and families that live in apartments or motor homes and say you’re going to pay more in your rates so that someone in this comfortable home over here pays a little bit less for their (electric vehicle) charger or their solar panels on their roofs,” Barnes said.
She said the utility has done “responsible decarbonization” that hasn’t affected rates or reliability.
Steinke stressed the need to look at renewable sources.
“The faster we roll out solar, the cheaper it becomes,” Steinke said. “That’s not getting ahead of ourselves, that’s the responsible thing to do.”
Barnes and Steinke will join dozens of other local candidates for numerous races up for election this year. The deadline to submit ballots is 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8.
