20200818Comments(10).pdf

From:
To:
Lori Frank <[e-mail]>
Jan Noriyuki
Subject:Comment re: Avista 2020 Electric IRP, Case No. AVU-E-19-01
Date:Monday, August 17, 2020 2:53:55 PM
Dear Idaho Public Utilities Commissioners:
I am an Avista customer and I support clean energy because we have the technology to
produce it thereby reducing emissions from coal and gas fired plants which have provendetrimental effects on our planet.
The overwhelming evidence of carbon emissions causing global warming is an extremeconcern by the majority of climate scientists. I have witnessed this first hand by life's
experiences with some of these examples: I see the increase in frequency and intensity offorest fires (I was a wildland firefighter 1979-1983); Farmers are concerned with the
increasingly less predictable growing season and increased strength of weather events (mycousin is a major producer of wheat and peas); People on tropical islands are very concerned
about rising sea levels as well as changing growing seasons and increased frequency andintensity of hurricanes (I served in the Peace Corps with farmers in Jamaica from 2016-2018);
and I am well aware of the evidence of changing habitats both on land and in the sea and howglobal warming affects glaciers and permafrost, wildlife, plant life, sea currents, sea levels,
and weather patterns in ways that are far more wide-spread and accelerated than has occurrednaturally by fossil and geologic accounts (having studied and taught high school biology for
35 years).In addition, there are negative effects from the emissions of "dirty" energy on the health of
citizens that live near the plants. Everybody deserves to breath clean air.Please have the courage and moral commitment to make the choices that will have the best
interests of our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Regards, Lori Frank
18303 W Hauserview DrHauser, ID 83854
I acknowledge that submitting a comment in an open case constitutes a public record
under Idaho Code § 74-101 (13) and all information provided by me on this form is available for public and media inspection. My comment may be reviewed by the utility.
From:
To:
Subject:
Date:
Michael Wells <[e-mail]>
Jan Noriyuki
Comment re: Avista 2020 Electric IRP, Case No. AVU-E-19-01
Monday, August 17, 2020 3:30:52 PM
Dear Idaho Public Utilities Commissioners:
I am an Avista customer and I support clean energy because it makes sense to have a wide
energy portfolio. Investing in solar energy makes complete sense. The sun provides us with 10times the energy we use everyday. To have the capability to rely upon solar (panels and wind),
while we also develop geothermal and add those to the energy assets we currently utilizemeans we will have a more resilient grid. It also means we can transition to more carbon free
options for energy going forward, which will help fight climate change. It also makes sense togreatly expand our solar power resources because our salmon are going to continue to decline
until the lower Snake dams are breached, which doesn’t seem likely considering the currentEIS but there’s a lack of abundance in returning salmon that will necessitate the breaching of
those dams. Your investment in solar power options today will help fight climate change,improve grid redundancy and resilience, and be that savings account that is there when those
dams are taken out of service, which is still a viable possibility going forward. Invest in thefuture. A real, bright future, invest in a multi-layered solar energy approach.
Regards,
Michael Wells 1525 Quail Run Dr
Lewiston, ID 83501
I acknowledge that submitting a comment in an open case constitutes a public record under Idaho Code § 74-101 (13) and all information provided by me on this form is available
for public and media inspection. My comment may be reviewed by the utility.
From:
To:
Judith Butler <[e-mail]>
Jan Noriyuki
Subject:Comment re: Avista 2020 Electric IRP, Case No. AVU-E-19-01
Date:Monday, August 17, 2020 3:34:18 PM
Dear Idaho Public Utilities Commissioners:
I participated in the workshop conducted by the IPUC, as well as the hearing conducted by the
Commission on August 5. I appreciated the testimony and the questions by the public. Ihope that the commission also understands the critical nature of the many requests to focus on
the public interest at this point in our history. We are in the midst of a climate crisis.
The primary purpose of regulatory governmental agencies is to promote the public interest. As a commission you seek to provide a fair rate for the customers, as well as to ensure the
provider covers its expenses and makes a profit. Your obligation also includes the interests ofthe people affected by the power company. You would not allow a new dam to be built
without first requiring payment to landowners whose property would be taken and flooded. So to, the effects of the release of carbon dioxide and methane on our air, on the health of
citizens, and on the environment must be considered.
We have been Avista customers in Idaho since 1970 and were also customers in Washingtonfor years. It is important for Avista to invest in solar and wind in Idaho. Community solar
was available in Washington and could easily be built in Idaho to make Idaho energy self-sufficient. The decreasing price of solar energy and the availability of wind energy are well
documented, however these resources do not seem to be included in the next few years of theAvista action plan. It may now be feasible to have solar panels on most school buildings
in Idaho. Net metering should be a part of Avista’s plan in order to encourage individualinvestment in renewable energy.
Our courts have monetized damages to the environment and to the health of the public in civil
actions for years. Think of the required oil spill cleanups where monetary damages arerewarded for losses sustained to people and to property. Even the fender bender which causes
neck injuries requires damages to be monetized for the pain and suffering incurred at the faultof another. While the Commission regulates the economics of energy creation and distribution,
the impacts on the public must be considered.
Because of the availability of Hydro power in this region, Avista has fairly good clean energyfigures compared to others in the rest of the country. However this is good fortune and for the
future will require dedicated planning on the part of Avista and the IPUC.
Science is clear that this is a crisis. Why is Idaho still using power from the Colstrip plant inMontana? Why is Avista looking at increasing natural gas instead of using sustainable
pollution-free resources? Fossil fuel dependence must end, and it can, as shown by othercountries. Avista’s aim to be carbon neutral by 2027 and 100% clean by 2045 falls far short of
what is necessary in today’s climate crisis. I urge the IPUC to recognize the sense of urgencynecessary today and require Avista to act accordingly.
Judy Butler
‪Hope ID 83836‪
Regards, Judith Butler
140 Monarch View LnHope, ID 83836
I acknowledge that submitting a comment in an open case constitutes a public record
under Idaho Code § 74-101 (13) and all information provided by me on this form is available for public and media inspection. My comment may be reviewed by the utility.
From:
To:
Sara Smith <[e-mail]>
Jan Noriyuki
Subject:Comment re: Avista 2020 Electric IRP, Case No. AVU-E-19-01
Date:Monday, August 17, 2020 4:23:08 PM
Dear Idaho Public Utilities Commissioners:
I'm an early childhood development teacher in the Lake Pend Oreille School District, in
Sandpoint, Idaho. I've worked and specialized in early childhood education for the past 9years, and I'd like to share my perspective on Avista's IRP with the Commission and Avista.
As we all know, the data shows how critically important early childhood education is to the
health, education, and careers of our kids. Idaho's environment in which our kids grow up isno less important to their future health and success. In a child's early development, their health
and cognitive abilities are more vulnerable to environmental impacts, such as poor air qualityand excessive heat. As a teacher, I've been increasingly worried to see my kids and their
parents have to struggle with more frequent wildfires during the summers in North Idaho.Wildfires present their own dangers to our rural communities, but the associated smoke has
been even more ominous and oppressive in recent summers. You might recall that Sandpointhad the worst air quality in the United States during the summer in 2018, when wildfires
across the region blew smoke that settled in our airshed.
Not only is wildfire smoke particularly damaging in the respiratory systems of young children,it requires parents to ensure their children stay indoors until the air quality improves, creating
financial burdens for parents who have to find alternate sources of childcare during thosetimes. So, I worry about the trends we see in our climate, which scientists predict will increase
the likelihood of hot weather events, lower snowpack, and more frequent wildfires in andaround North Idaho. And, as an Avista customer, I'm requesting both the Commission and
Avista do everything in their power to help our community reverse these trends. That meansaccounting for the social cost of carbon, when Avista is analyzing or making decisions about
its electric grid that serves North Idahoans, and supporting and implementing a rapid transitionto 100% clean energy.
As a teacher of kids at such a young age and as a mother to a young daughter, I want to look
into my kids' eyes and feel hope and happiness for the future ahead of them as Idahoans. But,it breaks my heart that I feel fear for the path Idaho's environment is headed down, as climate
change accelerates. And, I feel even worse to know that the electricity I use contributes to amore uncertain future for my kids.
Please respond seriously to the public's interest in addressing climate change and transitioning
to 100% clean energy. It is well within the Commission's authority to safeguard Idahoans'health and safety by requiring Avista to analyze the social cost of carbon and supporting
Avista's clean energy proposals.
Thank you for your time and consideration of this critically important matter to ourcommunity and kids.
Regards,
Sara Smith 1229 Superior St
Sandpoint, ID 83864
I acknowledge that submitting a comment in an open case constitutes a public record under Idaho Code § 74-101 (13) and all information provided by me on this form is available
for public and media inspection. My comment may be reviewed by the utility.
From:
To:
Lauren Fins <[e-mail]>
Jan Noriyuki
Subject:Comment re: Avista 2020 Electric IRP, Case No. AVU-E-19-01
Date:Monday, August 17, 2020 5:05:27 PM
Dear Idaho Public Utilities Commissioners:
Hello.
I am a Professor Emerita, retired in 2012 (University of Idaho, College of Natural Resources).
One of the courses I taught at the University was "Society and Natural Resources", a class thatexamined the benefits, costs and social and environmental consequences of the amounts and
ways we and others use and have used natural resources. Some of the topics we addressedwere climate change - its causes and largely negative effects on people, forests, other plant and
animal life (increased wildfires and severity of hurricanes, loss of species habitats, loss offresh water for human and animal habitation, etc), the dire effects of pollution on public
health, and the potential for positive change from a switch from non-renewable energygeneration to clean, green, renewable energy.
Based on my knowledge of these issues, I urge Avista to accelerate its transition to clean
energy. We cannot afford to wait for others to fix climate change and the other issues listedabove. It is up to us, and we need to act now. We need to move to a new model, to change to a
sustainable system, pay the real costs of energy generation, and be part of the solution toclimate change rather than part of the problem.
(You will note that my home address is not one served by Avista, but my husband and I own
several properties in Moscow that are served by Avista. Regardless, we all have a stake in thismatter.)
I did comment during the Zoom hearing, but in the interest of time, I kept my comments to a
minimum. That is why I'm taking this opportunity to comment here. Thank you for taking mythoughts into consideration.
Regards,
Lauren Fins 1009 Tolo Trail
Moscow, ID 83843
I acknowledge that submitting a comment in an open case constitutes a public record under Idaho Code § 74-101 (13) and all information provided by me on this form is available
for public and media inspection. My comment may be reviewed by the utility.
From:
To:
Subject:
Date:
Christina Eddy <[e-mail]>
Jan Noriyuki
Comment re: Avista 2020 Electric IRP, Case No. AVU-E-19-01
Monday, August 17, 2020 7:43:05 PM
Dear Idaho Public Utilities Commissioners:
I am an Avista customer and I support clean energy because as an elementary teacher, I feel
that it is important to model responsible behavior for the youth of our community. I conductan Outdoor School for six weeks every year introducing first through sixth graders to the
wonders of our natural world and how to live in concert with its cycles. We discuss and learnhow our actions can either benefit or disrupt the natural balance of the world around us.
Renewable energy is imperative for our future and that of the children I teach. Please considerthe impacts and social costs of carbon-based energies in all of your studies and decisions.
I thank you for your time and consideration on this important matter.
Regards,
Christina Eddy 410 S 4th Ave
Sandpoint, ID 83864
I acknowledge that submitting a comment in an open case constitutes a public record under Idaho Code § 74-101 (13) and all information provided by me on this form is available
for public and media inspection. My comment may be reviewed by the utility.
From:
To:
Tom Eddy <[e-mail]>
Jan Noriyuki
Subject:Comment re: Avista 2020 Electric IRP, Case No. AVU-E-19-01
Date:Monday, August 17, 2020 7:50:55 PM
Dear Idaho Public Utilities Commissioners:
I am an Avista customer and I support clean energy because as a Snow Safety professional at
Schweitzer, I witness the impacts of a changing climate on the health and safety of my fellowpatrollers and the recreating public every season. Using non-renewable, carbon-based fuels
exacerbates the changing climate. I have witnessed numerous historical avalanches in the pastfew seasons that can be tied directly to the choices we make in regards to our energy supply. I
fear that these massive (and in some cases, fatal) incidences will continue to become moreprevalent. Please consider the impacts and social costs of your choice of fuels in all of your
studies and weigh the importance of renewable energy in all of your decisions.
I appreciate your time and consideration.
Regards, Tom Eddy
410 S 4th AveSandpoint, ID 83864
I acknowledge that submitting a comment in an open case constitutes a public record
under Idaho Code § 74-101 (13) and all information provided by me on this form is available for public and media inspection. My comment may be reviewed by the utility.
From:PUC Consumer Comments
To:Jan Noriyuki
Subject:Notice: A comment was submitted to PUCWeb
Date:Tuesday, August 18, 2020 7:00:22 AM
The following comment was submitted via PUCWeb:
Name: Ilan Carter
Email: [e-mail]: 208-301-7464
Address: 124 N Polk StMoscow, ID 83843
Name of Utility Company: Avista
Case ID: AVU-E-19-01
Comment: "Members of the IPUC, I am a 17 year-old Moscow High School student, and I am
writing this comment in support of the Avista Corporation's plan to move towards 100%renewable energy by 2045 (and their elimination of the usage of coal within the next 5 years).
As I know you all are aware, the process of going through high school is about more than pursuing an education – it's a time when my peers and I get to grow towards personal
independence, and that growth is, without a doubt, inextricably linked to the natural beauties of our state. My first real job was on a work crew for Idaho Conservation Corps; my second as
an ecology research intern. Weekends for my peers and I mean hiking in the spring and summer, skiing in the winter, and hunting in the fall. Being a part of our Environmental Club
doesn't just mean meeting in school, it means actively working on conservation and restoration projects all over Latah county. I am proud to be from Idaho, and I am proud of the efforts of
groups li"
------[Open in the PUC Intranet application]
From:
To:
Subject:
Date:
Casey McCormack <[e-mail]>
Jan Noriyuki
Comment re: Avista 2020 Electric IRP, Case No. AVU-E-19-01
Tuesday, August 18, 2020 7:54:51 AM
Dear Idaho Public Utilities Commissioners:
Being born and raised in Coeur d Alene Avista has served myself and my family well for
many years. I think it is important to start taking whatever steps possible to combat climatechange and protect the beauty of Idaho. Please Avista, start taking steps toward transitioning
Idaho to utilizing more clean energy.
Regards, Casey McCormack
1334 N Galena DrCoeur D'alene, ID 83814
I acknowledge that submitting a comment in an open case constitutes a public record
under Idaho Code § 74-101 (13) and all information provided by me on this form is available for public and media inspection. My comment may be reviewed by the utility.
From:
To:
Subject:
Date:
Elizabeth Neuder <[e-mail]>
Jan Noriyuki
Comment re: Avista 2020 Electric IRP, Case No. AVU-E-19-01
Tuesday, August 18, 2020 4:17:51 PM
Dear Idaho Public Utilities Commissioners:
I am an Avista customer and I support clean energy because we must each take responsibility
for helping the future health of our planet. Clean renewable energy use and stopping use offossil fuels are two ways we can help reduce carbon emissions and provide cleaner air for
future generations.
Regards, Elizabeth Neuder
1506 Northshore DrSandpoint, ID 83864
I acknowledge that submitting a comment in an open case constitutes a public record
under Idaho Code § 74-101 (13) and all information provided by me on this form is available for public and media inspection. My comment may be reviewed by the utility.