Grant PUD position 3 challenger discusses stance

MOSES LAKE - Grant County PUD commissioner candidate Don Long pledged on Monday to represent residents with integrity and to provide rational and forward-thinking policies.

Long, 60, is a former power management director for Grant PUD and also worked as an engineer for the district.

He's challenging incumbent Randy Allred for his seat representing the third district on the commission.

Long spoke at a candidates' forum with others vying for public office in different races.

He promised to submit accurate and complete records of his travel so voters are aware of his commission activities.

If elected, Long said he will work for low rates for all power classes and support fiber. He pointed out Allred said he supported fiber, but voted against its expansion.

Long said he supports dark fiber and lit fiber to maximize revenues. Dark fiber is unlit fiber without equipment and some customers prefer dark fiber because of the lower cost and security issues. About a month ago, commissioners reached a consensus to not lift a dark fiber sales halt. Allred supported the consensus.

Software company Oracle and online book, music and movie store Amazon recently backed away from Grant County because of the dark fiber sales halt, according to an Oct. 1 article in the Columbia Basin Herald. Retailer Costco has also eyed Grant County, but wants dark fiber.

Long said the halt was put in place to give lit fiber a chance to be marketed, but so far, no lit customers have come into Grant County.

The PUD can maximize revenues and area jobs by offering both types of fiber, he explained.

When asked about his views on using the cost of service study to determine rates, Long said the study shouldn't be thrown away completely because of unpopular results.

But people still need to remember Grant County is an agricultural area, he added.

Long said his vision for future energy resources entails continuing and completing the dam turbine expansions and generator upgrades.

The PUD needs a strong conservation program and the utility should look at wind sites, he noted.

There are also biomass and biofuel resources the PUD is implementing locally, he said.

Long also spoke of ground source heat pumps and passive solar hot water heaters as ideas for conservation.

When asked if nuclear power is a reasonable solution, Long said the PUD needs to participate with the rest of the country in developing standardized designs for nuclear facilities.

He foresees the county won't need any large generating stations for at least 25 years, he noted.