Washington renewables initiative set to be passed: early results

Seattle (Platts)--8Nov2006

A Washington ballot requiring the state's 17 largest utilities to acquire
15% of their power supply from renewable sources by 2020 appeared to have been
passed by voters on Tuesday.

Some 52.62% of the vote favored Initiative 937 and 47.38% opposed it,
according to figures early Wednesday. Absentee ballots were still being
counted and an exact tally will not be known until late Wednesday, a spokesman
for the Yes on I-937 Campaign said. To pass, a measure needs 50% of the vote.

The initiative affects utilities that have more than 25,000 customers. It
does not include existing hydroelectric plants in the hydro-rich Northwest.

A number of utilities, including Avista and Grant County Public Utility
District opposed the initiative, noting that they are sourcing renewable
power, but that a mandate could cause the cost of renewables to rise.

The utilities are concerned that wind power would be the only reliable
renewable power source, but that wind power costs would jump if the federal
production tax credit is not renewed, they say.

Supporters of the initiative raised more than $1.2 million and included
independent power companies such as Horizon Wind Energy, PPM Energy and
Invenergy.

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