HEA Candidate Questions: Wayne Ogle
With the HEA board of directors election underway until May 5, the Alaska Energy Transparency Project is asking each candidate how they see the cooperative’s future and what part they intend to play in it.
Here are answers from District One Candidate Wayne Ogle, running to represent Kenai, Nikiski, and parts of Soldotna (find HEA’s district map here).
Ogle, a retired U.S Coast Guard captain, has also been a public works director for the cities of Bethel and Kenai. He sat on the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly from 2013 to 2019, with two years as Assembly President. His candidate profile can be found here.
Questionnaire
Q: Why do you want to be an HEA board member?
I am interested in helping influence HEA policy toward the practical improvement of technology for the HEA system while simultaneously supporting sensible policies that ensure keeping members rates as low as possible.
Q: Are there any particular projects or ideas you would champion as a board member? Are there any you would oppose?
HEA is an electrical co-op whose mission is to provide as low cost and dependable electrical services to its customers as possible. That must be HEA's mission focus at all times. HEA also must be aware of technology trends and adjust so we are not caught short in upcoming years. I am opposed to setting any arbitrary goals of power generation by "renewable" energy sources by a certain date. This is not in keeping with our mission to our customers. I do not see my role as a Board member picking and choosing favorite projects. I'll leave that to the experts. I will examine HEA operations in light of making sense for the near/long term for our customers.
Q: If elected you will serve a three year term. If re-elected in the future, you could serve on the board for up to 9 years. What challenges and opportunities will HEA face in the next three years, and in the next nine? Ideally, what do you want HEA to be like three years from now? Nine years from now?
I am not concerned with possible future terms as an HEA Board member. HEA is always faced with rising costs of energy sources, rising costs of operations, keeping up with changing technology. I will be focused on how HEA management is dealing with those issues. One must remember that the Board does not run HEA. There is a professional staff who does so. Our job is to ask their proposals and evaluate if they are sensible. We also examine if HEA is being run effeciently. If it isn't, we should put the onus on management to make effective changes. If leadership is lacking, we change the leadership. But we do not interfere with daily operations.
Q: The price of natural gas fuel typically makes up about a third of an HEA member’s bill, production and transmission costs are usually another third, and distribution costs about a quarter. Of the factors that drive HEA’s rates, which are under the board’s control? What are your plans for managing them?
HEA seems to have sufficient generation capability, especially with a relatively stagnant population. Two big problems are getting and maintaining a reliable and cost efficient source of energy for power generations. The details of power transmission need to be examined, i.e. how to get excess power from one place in the system to where it's needed.
Q: HEA is currently meeting its power generation needs. What reasons, if any, justify the construction of new generation or the premature retirement of existing generation?
Population growth and industrial demand as well as trending obsolescence of equipment would be primary drivers. Those details need to be examined in detail.
Q: What approach should HEA take to Railbelt-wide cooperation? What potential problems or opportunities exist for HEA in the ongoing process of forming an Electrical Reliability Organization? What would you see as an ideal outcome for HEA’s participation in an ERO? What is an undesirable outcome?
HEA has been in discussions with other electrical providers. It seems there has not been much progress. Despite the seeming synergy that may result in partnering with our neighboring electrical service providers, HEA could possibly become a co-op within a co-op. That would mean a loss of control by HEA in its basic decision making. I would be concerned that HEA would then not be able to live up to its mission to its customers. This is a concept that should be looked at closely and with healthy skepticism.
Q: How would you have voted on these recent HEA board decisions? Why?
Contracting with Tesla for a Battery Energy Storage System
NO. Would love to see a real cost benefit analysis of the use of those batteries for a sustained period of time. Also, the reliability.
Participating in the Battle Creek expansion of Bradley Lake hydro project
I need more information. First, I would examine the cost benefit analysis of Bradley Lake hydro project. And then an analysis of any expansion project.
Selling the Soldotna-to-Quartz Creek transmission line to the Alaska Energy Authority
I do not have sufficient information on the details of this transaction.
Setting the goal of meeting 50% of HEA’s energy needs with renewables by 2025
Absolutely NO! HEA has no business setting arbitrary "feel good" goals for energy production by a certain date that would require drastic modifications to equipment and operations. It's a total sell out of its mission of serving its customers with predictable and cost effective energy. Note the rolling brown-outs in Texas and California this winter. None of the suffering people those locations were ecstatic about their unreliable "renewable" energy goals.