THE VOICE OF MODESTO

The September 8th MID meeting left a bad taste in the mouths of many local
businessmen.  Among others was a very unhappy Chris Murphy who thought that
most of the MID board just didn’t care about solar power initiatives. The
board was directly challenged when Murphy said the MID staff failed to
notify the local business about changes in the application process. Murphy also
noted that rate payers should be happy paying the increases that will come
if and when these solar power programs go into effect.

At past meetings MID General Manager Allen Short has shown his disdain for
solar power and it’s reflected in his attitude. Staring sullenly during
much of the meeting seemingly stirring only to point out the increase rates
that will be necessary by adopting solar power.

Ryan Swelha spoke harshly when he stated that the MID board should honor
its commitments.

As an interesting footnote The company Valley Energy Partners which Swelha,
Steve Ensley, City Council member Brad Hawn and City Council candidate Joe
Muratore are partners seem to have little problem with knowing rate payers
are going to subsidize their business venture. Valley Energy partners even
name dropped the “Commonwealth” to dubious effect.

A regular at these meetings who’s a senior on a fixed income pleaded for
the board to be conservative and prudent to no avail. Even Cecil Hensley who
normally looks out for the ratepayers remained silent.

MID Director Mike Serpa urged the MID’s Board to insist that companies
applying have some “skin in the game” so they wouldn’t get off scott free for
the solar costs. He noted under one of the MID potential policies that
companies could end up paying very little out of pocket if the MID didn’t
institute a percentage cap on re-embursements.  The Federal government has a
30% tax incentive in place and in June created a program allowing companies to
apply for grants of cash up front if they weren’t eligible for tax
credits.

MID Director Mike Serpa noted that the report given the Directors was like
a “black box report” since it had little or no background information.

So in the end the Board voted 5-0 to instruct staff to consider all
applications without concern of total costs or Megawatt cap.

They postponed the consideration of re-embursements percentages and the
price to be paid for the customer generated power at least until the next
meeting.

So after a delay of six weeks the MID staff still hadn’t done its homework
to anyones satisfaction.