After spending millions of ratepayer money along with grant money, Snohomish County PUD Commissioners realized the PUD could not compete with big corporations in the development of underwater power generation when the money ran out.
PUD Commissioners have now spent nearly $26 million of ratepayer and state grant money to fund a new start-up company, 1Energy Systems, owned by David Kaplan, a personal friend of former manager Steve Klein. The money was earmarked for the development of a energy storage system for PUD. Yet, November, 2014, 29 of 31 California Public Utilities voted no on energy storage systems, citing their excessive cost to the ratepayer and not delivering what they had expected. PUD commissioners are poised to spend another $4 million contract to 1Energy having full knowledge of these facts.
Anthony Curtis, a PUD employee deserving public thanks, has evidence to support his statement to PUD commissioners; “There was never a delivery of anything to the PUD in exchange for the first $800,000 paid to 1Energy.”
Colleen Kinerk, the PUD appointed investigator, states in her report, page 11, 12: “Approximately half of the $800,000 went to hire employees for Kaplan’s new start-up company, including a member of Kaplan’s family.” Kinerk concluded: “The remaining $400,000 had been expended” but, does not say how that money was spent. PUD commissioners, Klein or Kaplan have not stepped forward to offer a specific accounting of how that money was spent. A true independent criminal investigation is overdue.
Lynn Claughton
Tulalip
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