Professor Paddle: Your cards are working!

Message

   To all of you who sent in cards or commented online to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) about the proposed Skykomish hydropower project, guess what - it is making a difference! At the Snohomish PUD commissioner's meeting yesterday it became clear that the commissioners are starting to re-think whether or not this project is worth pursuing. It's the first time we've heard any of this kind of tone from them, and I wanted to share it with you because I know sometimes it's easy to get into the frame of mind that the end result is inevitable and there's not much the 'little people' can do.

Thanks in large part to JP, FERC received something like over 6,000 online comments and cards during the comment period that ended in April. This raised eyebrows in D.C. and here.

Things are by no means over - SnoPUD needs factual reasons for pulling the plug on this project. There are plenty. We are in the process of compiling information to make it as clear as possible, and hopefully save Snohomish County ratepayers the $3 million SnoPUD expects to spend pursuing project approval over the next year or so. This is not the time to sit back and relax, we are proceeding as though the project were in 'full speed ahead' mode, but  I wanted to let you know that things are looking up. We might need to ask for your help again in the future, but for now just toast yourselves and if you see JP give him a big smooch. :)