EPHRATA – In Wednesday night’s candidate forum at American Legion Post 28 in Ephrata, two candidates for the Grant County Public Utility District Commissioner position, incumbent Tom Flint and Robert Allen, presented their perspectives on critical issues affecting Grant County’s energy future and economic growth. 

Flint, a fifth-generation farmer, emphasized his deep connection to the region and the importance of supporting local core customers, primarily single families and farmers and ranchers.  

“I think my institutional knowledge of Grant County PUD is probably my biggest asset, and I'm the only one that's been through relicensing,” Flint said. “I'm the only one that's really dealt with some of the critical issues that the PUD has.” 

Flint also talked about how he took 860,000 signatures to Washington D.C. as part of an effort to protect hydroelectric facilities in Washington. Flint said that initial investors – the local population that helped found the PUD – should have a return on their investments. 

“Which makes the core folks' rates lower than the rest of them, and our industrial folks are important to us and for creating jobs and things,” Flint said.  

Allen, a Marine Corps veteran and union electrician with over 20 years in the trade, said he champions a broader approach to economic development.  

“I'm running for Grant County PUD Commissioner because I want to serve the residents of Grant County by helping to create living wage jobs,” he said.  

Allen underscored the significance of diversifying the local economy while advocating for the protection of farmers' interests. He believes that incentivizing industry through lower rates for large-scale users, such as data centers, can bolster tax revenues beneficial to the community. 

When asked about the PUD’s current billing structure, which charges core customers lower rates than large industrial users, both candidates agreed that continuing that practice is important.  

Opinions regarding future energy demands were also very similar, such as PUD projections that demand for power may soon exceed the utility’s production capacity, leading to the necessity of purchasing power on the open market, potentially at higher rates.  

Both candidates expressed support for modular nuclear reactors in addressing the county’s growing energy demands. 

Allen explained that options should be explored and a long-term plan should be made for the future of energy in Grant County.  

Flint acknowledged the need for new energy solutions and said he felt something would be required to bridge the time between capping out current sources and being able to get a modular reactor in place.