Renewable energy panel to meet on the peninsula

Peninsula Development District and the Resource Conservation & Development present a renewable energy panel at a joint work session beginning at 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 28, in the Red Cedar Room at the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribal Center in Blyn. The public is invited.

The panel will consist of Charlie Brandt, director Battelle Marine Science Laboratory (wind, tidal energy); Barney Burke, Jefferson PUD commissioner (launching a new electric utility); John Calhoun, Port of Port Angeles commissioner (biomass); Andy Cochran, president and founder of Power Trip Energy Corp. (solar); Mattias J?rvegren, Clallam PUD utility services advisor (efficiency); Linda Rotmark, executive director Clallam Economic Development Council (Innovation Partnership Zone and economic impact); and Deb Stinson, member of Jefferson County 20/20 (climate).

Serving as moderator will be Dave Sjoding, renewable resources specialist for the WSU Extension Energy Program. Sjoding also works in the information center for the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Department of the U.S. Department of Energy and he leads a six-state Pacific Regional Biomass Energy Partnership that encourages the development of bioenergy within the Pacific Region.

The work session is to allow interested citizens, government agency staff, PDD and RC&D board members, elected officials and businesses to hear experts in renewable energy and its potential economic impact for the Olympic Peninsula. There will be a time for audience questions at the end of the panel presentations.