The Snohomish County PUD managed to tarnish the image of their helpful MESA battery storage system with revelations of serious contracting improprieties. It’s a darn shame because we need energy storage right now. Connect enough solar panels to battery storage and we can eliminate PUD’s rationale for their proposed hydro-project on the Skykomish.
But what else are they concealing? Unlike hydro, solar energy with battery storage is climate resilient. Whether you’re a ratepayer, global warming believer or denier, pay attention.
The Herald’s coverage on the warming Stillaguamish River illustrates climate impacts scientists call the new normal. Record low snowpack means early low stream flows and higher water temperatures on the Skykomish, while the predicted El Nino means another warm winter.
SnoPUD’s omission of climate impacts makes its hydro-project an expensive “stranded asset” before it’s even licensed. They don’t want you to know their hydro river diversion means even lower stream flows that won’t support fisheries, comply with DOE water quality/flows, or meet their claimed generation capacity.
SnoPUD ignores three pillars of its own “Strategies for Climate Change:”
“Monitor and evaluate the actual changes that are occurring in the climate (e.g. snow pack, etc.) and adapt effectively to the actual impacts of climate change on our utility operations.
Educate our customers and promote public awareness on climate change issues.
Influence public policy forums on climate change at the local, state and national level for the benefit of our ratepayers.”
Art Petersen
Seattle
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