To the editor — Myth: Hydropower is the main form of power generation in Yakima County. Truth: 6% of Pacific Power's "Power Mix" is hydropower, 70% is fossil fuels. The surrounding utility districts? Greater than 90-95% hydropower.

Why is this? About 45 years ago, Yakima County ceded its utility district and shortly thereafter any oversight to the private sector, promising lower rates and service, neither of which we’ve seen. Knowing better, NONE of our neighbors have followed suit.

Pacific Power is owned by Berkshire-Hathaway, which owns coal mines, coal plants (Reuters: “the dirtiest set of power plants in the U.S.”) and BNSF. Rather than lower rates, that money went to Omaha, not to our hydropower infrastructure. Would Pacific Power need to have a “Blue-Sky Program”, holding the environment ransom, if they were providing you with renewable energy?

The impact of this myth has been far-reaching, affecting our purchases and voting. It has made liberals and conservatives lazy and smug, thinking that we use clean energy. Many conversations with offices of county, state, and federal representatives have shown they are unaware as well.

Perhaps it is time for the county to put the “public” back into the utility district.

ERIC HOHMAN

Yakima

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