September  2001

We Give Back

In 1999 the Washington Legislature established the Electric Utility Rural Economic Development Revolving Fund which enables local utilities to establish loans or grants for qualifying projects. Funds dedicated to this purpose entitle the electric utility to a 50% tax credit.

A qualifying project is defined as “a project designed to achieve job creation or business retention, to add or upgrade non-electrical infrastructure, to add or upgrade health and safety facilities, to accomplish energy and water use efficiency improvements, including renewable energy development, or to add or upgrade emergency services in any designated rural area.”

Last year Douglas PUD was able to distribute $50,000 in grants to seven entities who met the qualifications. They are as follows:

• Mansfield Volunteer Fire Department and Ambulance Service – Upgrade back-up ambulance small equipment to meet DOH standards, $3,600.
• Town of Waterville – Build 600 feet of asphalt sidewalk near schools to improve child safety, $6,550.
• City of Bridgeport – Purchase pagers for ambulance emergency response, $3,500.
• Douglas County Parks – Repair and upgrade Eastmont Park soccer field, $16,050.
• Douglas County – Complete and restore segments of sidewalk, curb and gutter and construct new and expanded off-street parking to improve safety for visitors to the courthouse in Waterville, $12,600.
• Douglas County Cemetery District 2 – Replace dangerous overhead door at storage building, $1,000.

Renewable Power Supply

Douglas PUD continues to investigate the possibility of wind power production in Douglas County.  Seventeen weather stations are currently gathering data around the county.  We are also planning to participate in the Nine Canyons Wind Project sponsored by Energy Northwest.

 Douglas PUD is also working toward the installation of solar photovoltaic cells at the East Wenatchee headquarters and the new Eastmont Junior High School.  These installations will help us assess the viability of integrating solar power into the county’s electric supply

 Our goal is to provide Douglas County with low-cost, reliable electric service.