KENNEWICK -- Incumbent Rep. Laura Grant and challenger Terry Nealey met Thursday night at the Columbia Center Red Lion Hotel in Kennewick to discuss irrigation and energy needs, among other issues.
The two 16th District candidates shared similar views on many questions and both agreed that nuclear and hydro-power should be considered renewable energies during the forum organized by the Columbia-Snake River Irrigators Association. About a dozen people attended.
The candidates touched on Initiative 937, which will require power utilities to obtain at least 15 percent of their energy from renewable sources by 2020. Nealey and Grant said they support nuclear and hydropower being counted as renewable energies, which would ease the burden on power utilities to achieve the 15 percent goal, they said.
"(Initiative 937) can be modified and stay true to its intent," said Grant, a Walla Walla Democrat.
Both candidates also said they would support a bill that would grant additional water rights to farmers growing biodiesel crops. A similar bill was introduced several years ago but did not pass.
The candidates did not have answers to several questions relating to agriculture and irrigation.
However, Nealey and Grant said that if those questions came their way in Olympia, they'd have a team of attorneys and advisers to help them find answers.
Nealey and Grant disapprove of a state cap-and-trade initiative. Nealey said it would put Washington at a disadvantage if surrounding states did not adopt such a bill.
The Northwest Power and Conservation Council's recently released draft Sixth Power Plan states that as much as 85 percent of the region's energy needs throughout the next 20 years can be achieved through conservation, and the candidates were asked if they believed this.
"No," Nealy, a Republican, flatly answered before saying he thought that figure was unrealistic.
Grant said she hasn't read the plan but said conservation could meet some of the region's power needs but likely not 85 percent.
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