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Home My WebLink AboutPublic Comment DE � C� OORSEY CRAIG S.RITCHEY Partner in Charge,Palo Alto and San Francisco (650)843-2705 ritchey.craig@dorsey.com December 11, 2006 VIA U.S. POSTAL SERVICE & FACSIMILE (530) 587-5056 Peter Holzmeister General Manager Truckee Donner PUD P. O. Box 309 Truckee, CA 96160 Re: Proposed Contract/Investment in Coal-Fired Power Plant in Utah Dear Mr. Holzmeister: I am writing to voice my strong objection to the Truckee Donner Public Utility District's participation in the Utah Coal-Fired Power Plant Project. I understand the concerns about rising electrical rates and the need to be as economical as possible,but I believe we need to set an example of good stewardship by taking the most prudent approach to the total quality of life. This to me tips the scale very strongly in favor of NOT investing in a Coal-Fired Power Plant in Utah. As a homeowner, I would urge you to vote no. Si ely yours, 7 Craig S. Rit CSR:jp DORSEY & WHITNEY LLP • WWW.DORSEY.COM • T 650.857.1717 - F 650.857.1288 1717 EMBARCADERO ROAD • P.O. BOX 51050 • PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA 94303 USA CANA[DA EUROPE ASIA DIANNE FEINSTEIN COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS CALIFORNIA �O^ry s COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES 6V1p1�� COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE ON RULES AND ADMINISTRATION SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE -ant tacte� er��cte WASHINGTON, DC 20510-0504 http://feinstein.senate.gov November 28, 2006 Mr. Peter L. Holzmeister General Manager Truckee Donner Public Utility District P.O. Box 309 Truckee, CA 96160 Dear Mr. Holzmeister: I am writing to express my deep concern about a proposal pending before the Truckee Donner Public Utility District (PUD) to establish a 50-year contract with a coal-powered electric plant in Utah. As you are probably aware, California has recently passed a series of laws aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions—including one that prevents any California utility from signing a contract for power that is not as clean as that which comes from a combined cycle natural gas plant. I believe that all California utilities should abide not only by the letter of the law, but also by its intent. I strongly encourage Truckee Donner PUD to look at all sources of electrical generation, such as natural gas and renewable energy, to help provide your community with environmentally-friendly solutions to your power needs. Sincerely, Dianne Feinstein United States Senator cc: Beth Ingalls, Mayor, Town of Truckee Betony Jones, Program Manager, Sierra Business Council DF:lm/rm 12/20/2006 18:57 FAX C�001 COMMITTEES: BARBARA BOXER COMMERCE,SCIENCE, CALIFORNIA AND TRANSPORTATION ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS lanited �6tatvwplft �5tnntt FOREIGN RELATIONS HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING SUITE 112 WASHINGTON,DC 20510-0505 (202)224-3553 http..//boxer.seniAe.gov/contact December 20,2006 Mr. J. Ron Hemig Board President Truckee Donner Public Utility District 11570 Donner Pass Road Truckee, California Dear Mr. Hemig: I am writing to commend you and the other members of your board for your recent votes to reject a long term coal-based electricity contract for the Truckee Donner Public Utility District. As you know, California has already passed landmark legislation to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases that cause global warming and a key part of the California program 1s a standard to limit emissions from electricity generation that will become effective very soon. Your decision to join other cities, such as Burbank,Riverside and Pasadena, and reject long term contracts for electricity from coal is just the type of leadership we need to help combat the global warming menace. I am extremely pleased by your strong stand on behalf of a better future for us all. Fifty years from now,when the proposed contract would have ended,your successors will hail your board's foresight, and I expect that the nation and your district will be generating much or all of its1electricity without emitting carbon dioxide. In the meantime,there are many things that we can do now to help reduce emissions of greenhouse gases that will help us both environmentally and economically. We can continue to increase our energy efficiency,which saves everyone money and reduces emissions of carbon dioxide. We can seek alternative forms of energy, such as renewable energy from wind, geothermal energy,and solar power. And we can use American ingenuity and know-how to develop new and improved forms of energy that emit less carbon—making us environmentally safer,more energy independent and world leaders in cutting edge technologies. 1700 MONTGOMERY STREET 312 NORTH SPRING STREET 501'I'STREET 2500 TULARE STREET 600'B'STREET 201 NORTH'E'STREET SUITE 240 SUITE 1748 SUITE 7-600 SUITE 5290 SUITE 2240 SUITE 210 SAN 151405-0 CO,CA 94111 OS N ,CA 90012 `�6)RAM�EN�TB CA 95814 9)497-5109 ESNO,CA 721 6 �AN D23 884 CA 92101 SAN 909)868 8b O,CA 92401 PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER t2/20/2006 18:57 FAX a 002 Global warming is already happening and its impact on our water resources,tourism and recreation,including the ski industry,will grow as global warming continues. We need to find a better way,which avoids these kinds of effects,for the sake of tomorrow and for our children's and grandchildren's future. Your vote to reject this contract is a big step in the right direction. Sincerely, ,oO.ABarbara Boxer United States Senator cc: Director Joe Aguera Director Pat Sutton Director William L. Thomason Director Tim F. Taylor TDPUD Board Meeting Attendance Sheet .DATE: 113 NAME NAME J?K-114-j3•g ^; 0 cz ]2e. f, T-�e \Irtn c A J&*—) 4�2L, llZr I(Akt lCl� L ZINN --;561- �. k w' SAl =T �� Cc►� 1 Cen s TDPUD Board Meeting Attendance Sheet DATE: 2 N/(Mt NAME J ,IleJ DEC-13-2006 17:08 BUSINESS SERVICES 916 654 4404 P.02iO3 STATE OF CAUFORNIA—THE RESOURCES AGENCY u. ARNOLD SCHWARZFsIEGGER,Qavemw CALIFORNIA ENERGY COMMISSION 1515 NINTH STREET Nam SACRAMENTO,CA 96814ti5512 www.enem.moov December 13, 2006 Mr. J. Ron Hemig Board President Truckee Donner Public Utility District 11570 Donner Pass Road Truckee, CA 96161 Dear Mr. Hemig: The five Commissioners of the California Energy Commission have directed me to write and express their serious concem regarding a potential action of the Truckee Donner Public Utility District. We are all troubled that your upcoming vote to sign a fifty-year contract to purchase electric generation will not meet the new CO2 emission standards in California. From my Commission's vantage point, your potential action to sign such a contract contradicts the State of California's policy to reduce carbon emissions from power generation and is in direct conflict with the Governor's Teen .4 gas reduction goals. In its 2005 Integrated Energy Policy Report, the Energy Commission recommended a greenhouse gas performance standard for power procurement by all of the state's utilities. Specifically, the Energy Commission recommended a standard set no higher than emission levels from new combined-cycle natural gas plants. Following the Energy Commission's action and in response to concerns about the effects of global climate change, the California legislature passed and the Governor signed Senate BiRA 368 (Chapter 598, Statutes of 2006). This statute directs the Energy Commission, in consultation with the California Public Utilities Commission and the California Air Resources Board, to: establish a greenhouse gases emission performance standard [EPS1 for all baseload generation of local publicly owned electric utilities at a rate of emissions of greenhouse gases that is no higher than the rate of emissions of greenhouse gases for combined-cycle natural gas baseload generation." Under this new state law, local publicly owned utilities will not be allowed to enter into a long-term financial commitment unless any baseload generation supplied under the long-term financial commitment complies with the greenhouse gases emission performance standard established by the Energy Commission. A rulemaking to establish this standard is underway at the Energy Commission, and the regulations are expected to be in effect by June 2007. DEC-13-2006 17:08 BUSINESS SERUICES 916 654 4404 P.03iO3 Mr. J. Ron Hemig December 13, 200 Page 2 Your potential action will likely be construed as an effort to circumvent this new law. As a consequence, it could incite those involved in our rulemaking process to argue vehemently against showing any regulatory flexibility that the law might allow for all locally-owned municipal electric utilities, particularly with regard to compliance and enforcement. Furthermore, you may also want to consider that your action could result in significantly higher energy costs from carbon penalties that may be imposed by the California Air Resources Board in its implementation of Assembly Bill 32. My Commission strongly urges your recognition of these issues as you consider your potential action. We are willing and able to assist you in finding a path that allows your organization to meet future electricity needs, consistent with prevailing state policy and law. We urge you to join your fellow California municipal utility districts and work with us toward a reliable California electricity future that provides an improved environment for our children. Sinc ly moo B. . B EVINS Executive Director Cc: Board Members, Truckee Donner Public Utility District TOTAL P.03