Chelan PUD begins shaping future of Public Power Benefit Program

WENATCHEE — Chelan County PUD commissioners began shaping the future of the utility's Public Power Benefit Program on Monday, discussing how future community investments should be prioritized as new requests compete for a growing pool of available funding.

The discussion came during an annual update on the program, which has allocated approximately $63 million since its inception, including about $28 million for countywide fiber expansion. More than 42 projects have received funding, and staff recommended maintaining the program's annual $6 million allocation as part of the 2027 budget process. With previously approved funds carrying over from year to year, the program currently has about $18 million available for future projects.

"This morning, what we'd like to do is talk to you about where we're at with the Public Power Benefit Program," Chief Strategy and Stakeholder Officer Justin Erickson told commissioners. "We want to get you thinking about how you might choose to allocate a portion of that in the future, and we welcome discussion along the way."

Earlier this year, commissioners approved Public Power Benefit funding for the installation of the Walter Graham "Horsepower" mural at the Wenatchee Valley Museum & Cultural Center, an extension of the district's supported employment program, and improvements to a Washington State Parks day-use area and boat launch. Together, those projects illustrate the program's broad reach, supporting everything from recreation and workforce development to cultural amenities that often intersect with other community initiatives.

Monday's presentation also highlighted three recent funding requests. Staff recommended moving forward with a $100,000 request from the North Central Washington Tech Alliance to help develop career pathways in energy, utilities and technology, calling it the first project to fit a workforce development category the board established in 2022. Staff did not recommend requests from the Chelan-Douglas Land Trust for trail signage or the Pybus Public Market Foundation for parking lot improvements because they fall outside the district's funding authority or the intended scope of the program.

The broader discussion, however, centered less on specific requests than on the philosophy behind the program.

Among a list of possible future funding requests, staff included demolition of the district's former Fifth Street headquarters after employees relocate to the new Service Center. Commissioner Carnan Bergren questioned whether that type of work should be considered a Public Power Benefit project at all.

"Well ... you take it out of the Public Power Benefit and apply it to this particular situation, that means there's less dollars for some other area [where] maybe it's more appropriate or a higher priority within the district," Bergren said.

General Manager Kirk Hudson said the item was included not as a recommendation, but to gauge the board's thinking about where the program's boundaries should lie.

"This is the kind of feedback we're looking for," Hudson said, explaining that staff wanted commissioners to help distinguish between projects that should be funded through the Public Power Benefit Program and those better handled through the district's regular operating budget.

Other potential future projects discussed included recreation improvements in Chelan and Manson, wildfire resilience efforts, Stehekin reliability projects and expanded partnerships with local governments and public agencies.

The meeting also drew comments from Pybus Public Market Foundation Executive Director and Wenatchee City Councilmember Travis Hornby, who asked commissioners to keep the door open to future participation in a phased project to improve the market's south parking lot, expand parking capacity and install fast-charging electric vehicle stations.

"The ability for this commission, past and present, to think outside the box, to benefit the quality of life in our community is critical," Hornby said. "From the benefit you're doing at the YMCA to all the other benefits that were brought up in here ... I think is incredible."

No funding decisions were made Monday. Staff said it expects to return to the board during the 2027 budget process with additional recommendations and may bring individual proposals forward sooner as they become ready for consideration.

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media