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Comments (1)Reverberations of Truckee's Coal Contract Decision
Published: February 7, 2007by Mayumi Elegado
District discusses the options
The Truckee Donner Public Utility District (TDPUD) is seriously concerned about its energy supply situation upon expiration in late 2008 of its current supply contract. On December 13, 2006, the TDPUD board voted 4 to 1 in opposition of a 50-year coal contract. Now, according to Peter Holzmeister, General Manager, the district is “scared” and “feeling a lot of pressure.” Holzmeister also said the TDPUD is planning to “listen” and “look at all options.” Upcoming board meetings are chock full of agenda items related to the issue.
On Wednesday, February 7 at 7 p.m. (after Moonshine Ink press time), the TDPUD will discuss setting a district-wide Renewable Portfolio Standard* and establishing citizen committees on conservation and power supply – an idea originally suggested and supported by public comment. The agenda also calls for a report on the status of Truckee’s Biomass Plant project and discussion on improvements on the town’s energy substations to reduce outages.
On February 14, the TDPUD will hold a special session to discuss the impending power supply problem. According to Holzmeister, presentations will be given by several different consultants, all hired by the TDPUD to assist in finding a solution to this problem.
On February 21, Scott Terrell, TDPUD’s conservation specialist, will be presenting the “conservation power plant” concept, in which a district helps customers reduce their energy needs through efficiency measures, and customers pay back the district at a reduced rate for the energy they have saved as a result. Terrell said, “The cleanest and cheapest source of power is conservation.”
To contact TDPUD, call 530-587-3896.
* The California Renewable Portfolio Standard (or RPS) requires retail sellers of electricity in the state to purchase at least 20 percent of their power from renewable resources by 2020.
Coal Critic accused of insubordination
Scott Terrell, TDPUD’s conservation specialist and outspoken critic of the coal contract, was handed a “Notice of Proposed Suspension” by his boss, General Manager Holzmeister on January 5, 2007. The letter listed three reasons for the proposed discipline of two weeks without pay. The most serious charge of the letter was insubordination, in particular that Terrell had helped plan a lawsuit against the district should the proposed coal contract have passed. The crux of this charge was based on a Nov. 20 email correspondence between Terrell and a Sierra Club representative from Utah discussing how lawsuits have affected similar contracts.
Terrell elected to have his case heard before three board members of his choosing. The hearing was held Jan. 30. After hearing testimony from both sides, the board members deliberated.
“My feeling is that Scott Terrell was feeding [those opposed to the contract] info and inciting them,” Board member Joe Aguera said.
Board Member Bill Thomason disagreed, saying, “I’m having trouble connecting the dots.”
Board Member Patricia Sutton said, “There has been no evidence that unequivocably says Scott was trying to undermine the district.”
After a three-hour meeting, with lawyers representing each side, the three-member panel voted 2 to 1 to dismiss all the charges against Terrell. Aguera was the dissenting vote.
~ Mayumi Elegado
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