At the April 9, 2024 Board of Commissioners meeting, Commissioner Christine Grant announced her resignation from Public Utility District No. 1 of Whatcom County’s Commission, effective May 1, 2024.
During her nearly four years on the Board of Commissioners, Grant championed a great deal of progress for the PUD. We have succeeded in attracting millions of dollars in grant funds to build broadband infrastructure, helped oversee our initial study of bringing public power to all of Whatcom County, launched our initiative to see if we can develop geothermal power within the County, and helped lead the effort to secure a half a million dollars for a geothermal related study to be done in partnership with the Nooksack Tribe.
Commissioner Grant also served on the Board of Directors for Energy Northwest, and is active in many trade and civic organizations.
An election will be held at the general election in November 2024 to fill the unexpired term ending in 2026. Qualified interested parties may file a declaration of candidacy with the Whatcom County Auditor between May 6 and May 10, 2024.
The remaining District Commissioners may appoint an interim Commissioner to serve until the new Commissioner from District 1 is elected in November. Parties interested in submitting their name for nomination to fill the interim Commissioner position from District 1 may submit their names to Chris Heimgartner, District General Manager at 1705 Trigg Road, Ferndale, WA. Notice of the vacancy and nomination period will be issued separately.
An interim Commissioner will be appointed to serve from May until a new full time Commissioner is elected in November. For more details on both processes, please visit our website at www.pudwhatcom.org
Whatcom PUD would like to thank Commissioner Grant for her service.
Letter of Resignation
April 9, 2024
Dear General Manager Chris Heimgartner, Commissioner Jamie Arnett, and Commissioner Atul Deshmane:
I write to share with you the hard news that I will be resigning from my position as a Public Utility District #1 of Whatcom County Commissioner on May 1, 2024.
Approximately four years ago I filed to run for this position because I saw potential for the PUD to expand services to benefit more Whatcom County residents. I told voters that I would be a champion for expanding broadband infrastructure, developing local clean energy, and seeking collaborative solutions for a healthy Nooksack River. I’ve worked diligently on these initiatives since my election in 2020 and since that time the PUD Commission and staff have accomplished a great deal together.
During my first year on the Commission we conducted a national search for a new General Manager and after interviewing many candidates and reviewing extensive input from the community, we brought on Chris Heimgartner, a seasoned utility leader with a record of achievements in clean energy and broadband. Chris evaluates decisions with a rigorous technical lens and is committed to seeking and developing pragmatic solutions to move the needle on climate change.
We completed a new strategic plan in 2022 with the goal of positioning the PUD to continue providing excellent services to existing customers while developing new lines of business and services to the community. That goal is being met in important ways. For example, the PUD is now a central player in the deployment of broadband infrastructure in Whatcom County. PUD staff have successfully secured millions of dollars in broadband grant funding and are seeking more funding. On water, the leadership team at the PUD has continuously sought common ground and has arrived at sensible solutions for collaboratively managing water resources in our County. On energy, the PUD took time to seriously analyze what it would take for Whatcom County to transition to public power. The financial risks of this transition and the region-wide constraints in clean energy supply ultimately led the PUD to instead explore large-scale renewable energy generation opportunities in Whatcom County. In 2023 the PUD began to examine and convene community conversations around the possibility of developing geothermal energy in our County. In the 2024 legislative session the PUD played an important role in supporting the successful passage of SB 6039, a bill aimed at expanding geothermal energy development in Washington State, as well as securing a $500,000 budget proviso for a pre-feasibility study of geothermal in Whatcom County.
From planting saplings in riparian habitat with the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association (NSEA) to representing the Whatcom PUD on the Board of Directors of Energy Northwest in Richland, WA, I have brought my best self to my position on the PUD.
The work is not done. The work is never done. That being said, and after long and careful consideration, I have decided that it is time for me to pass the PUD baton to another individual so that I may more fully prioritize my family–including my two very young children. I extend my sincerest thanks to General Manager Chris Heimgartner, Commissioner Arnett, Commissioner Deshmane, the PUD staff, and many other members of the state PUD association. One of the most rewarding parts of serving as a PUD Commissioner has been the opportunity to collaborate with and learn from members of a community that I love so much. It has been an honor and I thank you
My family, and especially my husband, Sean, has made sacrifices to allow me to do this work. I thank them for supporting me unconditionally.
With gratitude and respect,
Christine Grant
