MOSES LAKE - Challenges associated with integrating renewable energy into the electrical grid are the focus of Tuesday's Energy Summit.

Part of the impacts to Grant County PUD customers are any costs associated with bringing renewable energy sources onto the grid, said Thomas Stredwick, a Grand County PUD spokesperson. Grant PUD is one of the event's partner organizations.

The free public event is from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday, at Big Bend Community College's ATEC Building, 7611 Bolling St. NE, Moses Lake.

"People are interested in what's renewable and what it means to the end user," Stredwick said.

When a large amount of wind comes online at the same time as high water flows, Grant PUD has a surplus of electricity.

"We have to pay people to take our energy," he commented. "The negative pricing scenarios you're hearing about will have more of a presence if more renewable energy comes into our area."

The financial loss represents less energy Grant PUD is able to sell on the wholesale market, he explained.

On Tuesday, panelists representing wind, hydropower and solar interests serve on the event panel. They appear for Bonneville Power Administration, Grant PUD, Ibernola Renewables and Puget Sound Energy.

Big Bend Community College President Bill Bonaudi moderates the summit.

Panelists are Tim Culbertson, Grant PUD's general manager; Donald Furman, senior vice president of external affairs; Iberdrola Renewables, Elliot Mainzer, executive vice president of corporate strategy; Bonneville Power Administration, Kevin Nordt, director of power management, Grant PUD, and Paul Wiegand, senior vice president of energy operations, Puget Sound Energy.

A question-and-answer session ends the event.

For more information, visit www.gcpud.org.