| Docket Number | Docket Name | Company |
|---|---|---|
| LC 81 | AVISTA'S 2023 INTEGRATED RESOURCE PLAN (IRP) | AVISTA UTILITIES |
| Comment Number | Created Date | Email Received Date | Company Name | Comment Type | Source Type | First Name | Last Name | Nearest City | Comment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LC 81-1 | 2/20/2024 9:38:29 PM | AVISTA UTILITIES | General Comment | Web | Eleanor | Ponomareff | TALENT | Chair Decker and Commissioners Tawney and Perkins, My name is Eleanor Ponomareff and I serve as a City Councilor for the City of Talent, speaking on behalf of myself and my constituents. My small rural city has the distinction of being one that was nearly destroyed by Labor Day Fires of 2020, a harsh reminder of the increasing risk our communities face due to climate change. I am writing to urge the Commission to adopt staff recommendations and not acknowledge Avista's Integrated Resource Plan (IRP). I further urge the commission to reject the utility's poor excuses to avoid investing in electrification, and to instead direct them to consider this resource. I am concerned about the unrealistic and misleading claims that gas companies have been making regarding the availability and benefits of so-called renewable natural gas and hydrogen. I hope that the Commission will be skeptical of Avista’s RNG and hydrogen promises and ask them to model more realistic scenarios as well. In addition, this IRP is an opportunity to investigate stranded asset risks in Avista’s system, which will directly impact my constituents. It’s important that we understand the risks to ratepayers who may be left on the hook for expensive projects that almost certainly won’t pay off in the long run. I hope the Commission will ensure Avista models scenarios which reduce customer count, as well as the amount of gas customers are using. The City of Talent has made a commitment to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and transition our community off of fossil fuels, which is embodied in our city’s Comprehensive Plan. We do not have time to waste on expensive and ineffective investments like the ones Avista is proposing. Please do not acknowledge this IRP. Many thanks for your good work. Sincerely, Eleanor Ponomareff Councilor, City of Talent Talent, Oregon councilor5@cityoftalent.org |