Meeting of Commissioners of
Public Utility District No. 1 of Clark County, Washington
June 17, 2025
A meeting of the Commissioners of Public Utility District No. 1 of Clark County was held at 1200 Fort Vancouver Way on Tuesday, June 17, 2025.
Present: President Nancy Barnes, Vice President Jane Van Dyke, Secretary Sherry Erickson Commissioners; CEO/General Manager Lena Wittler, Director of Finance Melissa Ankeny, Director of Information Services Jeff Groff, Director of Engineering Cal Morris, Director of Energy Resources Steve Andersen, Director of Operations/Interim Director of Water Gene Morris, Director of Communications and Corporate Citizenship Erica Erland, General Counsel John Eldridge, Strategic Communications Manager Morgan Van Fleet, Materials and Purchasing Manager Cathy Wannamaker, Corporate Communications Manager Dameon Pesanti, Benefits Manager Nerissa Fallon, Energy Resource Manager Terry Toland, Clean Energy Program Manager Matt Babbitts and Assistant to CEO/General Manager Margaret Anderson.
Staff present via digital conference (phone or video): Director of Customer Service Lisa Fix.
Others present in person or via digital conference (phone or video): Jim Malinowski, Rick Marshall, Peter Harrison, Gordon Matthews, Alison Gil and Jeff Fuller.
At 9:00 a.m., President Barnes called the meeting to order for the transaction of formal business. The agenda was approved as presented (Materials B).
Public Comment
Peter Harrison shared comments on solar power and the cost of batteries.
Consideration of the Minutes of June 3 and June 16, 2025
The minutes were approved as submitted.
Consideration of Accounts Payable
The board, by unanimous vote, approved the following payment amounts as listed on the Letter of Transmittal dated June 17, 2025, from the District Auditor (Materials C):
Electric Revenue Fund – $ 6,457,647.47
Water Revenue Fund – $ 939,536.77
Generating System Fund – $ 627,167.90
For a total of $8,024,352.14
Consideration of Bid Award No. 694 – OH & UG Linework – NE 179th St and 29th Ave
Materials and Purchasing Manager Cathy Wannamaker reviewed the memo dated June 17, 2025, detailing the bid results (Materials D). Commissioner Erickson moved to recommend that Bid No. 694 be awarded to the low evaluated bidder RiverLine Power LLC., in the amount of $178,016.90 plus applicable taxes. Commissioner Van Dyke seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.
Clean Fuel Standard Funded Transportation Electrification Programs
Clean Energy Program Manager Matt Babbitts reviewed the presentation (Materials E) starting with an overview of the Clean Fuel Standard Washington State law, credit transactions and revenues and Department of Ecology rules for expenditures.
Following the overview, Mr. Babbitts shared the proposed transportation electrification programs that Clark Public Utilities is considering in order to meet the requirements of the Clean Fuel Standards. The programs include a school district electric bus charging incentive program with a maximum amount of $300,000, multifamily charging infrastructure program with a maximum amount of $100,000 and an electric vehicle ride share pilot program in the amount of $30,000.
Following discussion, Commissioner Van Dyke moved to approve the three programs as presented to be in compliance with the Clean Fuel Standard. Commissioner Erickson seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Product Selection for Bonneville Power Administration Provider of Choice Contract
Director of Energy Resources Steve Andersen provided a Provider of Choice Contract timeline overview and introduced The Energy Authority Director of Client Services – West Jeff Fuller to complete the presentation.
Mr. Fuller shared the key findings of the Provider of Choice Analysis conducted by The Energy Authority (TEA) on behalf of Clark Public Utilities that determined Load Following is the least cost product option for Clark Public Utilities. The analysis considered planned product Western Resource Adequacy Program (WRAP) positions, the load following capacity position for above high-water mark requirements and the impacts of River Road Generating Plant capacity.
TEA’s analysis of applicable qualitative and quantitative data concluded that Load Following is the recommended product of choice, but Mr. Fuller noted there remains potential to change products once during the contract term should circumstances change materially. Staff and consultants will continue to monitor the cost effectiveness of Load Following during the contract term of October 1, 2028 – September 30, 2044.
Board action was not requested at this stage and staff will bring an official recommendation to commissioners at the next meeting.
Commissioners thanked staff and The Energy Authority for the analysis and presentation.
Commissioner Reports and Comments
Commissioner Barnes reported on her attendance at the Clean Energy Transformation Act audit entrance exam.
Commissioner Erickson reported on her attendance at the Public Power Council meetings and the Western Public Agency Group meetings.
Commissioner Van Dyke reported on her attendance at the American Public Power Association Annual Conference and the Public Power Council meetings.
Staff Reports
Energy Resource Manager Terry Toland provided the board with a recap of the recent River Road Generating Plant maintenance outage.
CEO/General Manager Lena Wittler shared a request by the Washington PUD Association to sign on to a letter in support of the Federal Drinking Water and Clean Water State Revolving Funds in light of the proposal by the Administration for the 2026 fiscal year to all but eliminate it. The Commissioners are in support of signing the letter, Ms. Wittler will work with Washington PUD Association on whom they would like to have sign the letter.
Executive Session
The meeting was recessed into executive session at 11:15 a.m. in accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act. RCW 42.30.110 (1)(g) – to evaluate the qualifications of an applicant for public employment or to review the performance of a public employee. Commissioner Barnes stated the Executive Session would end at 11:45 a.m.
Commissioner Barnes reconvened the public meeting at 11:45 a.m.
Final Board Comments
There being no further board comments, the meeting was adjourned at 11:46 p.m.