JHESP Wins $3.78 Million In SPET Money

Jackson, WYOMING (8/18/2010) – Voters in Teton County, Wyoming approved 10 of 11 SPET ballot measures yesterday during the primary election, including the Jackson Hole Energy Sustainability Project’s (JHESP) Proposition #6, “Energy Conservation Measures for Public Buildings.” JHESP’s Proposition #6 passed with a 56% approval rate. JHESP requested $3.78 Million to invest in energy conservation measures for public buildings, funding energy retrofits for these structures (increase insulation, caulking, weather stripping, real-time energy monitors, smart grid chips in hot water heaters, upgrades to HVAC systems, etc.). JHESP is the joint partnership between the Town of Jackson, Teton County and the local energy provider, Lower Valley Energy. SPET is the special purpose excise tax and is an existing one cent of the tax structure for Teton County.

Public facilities use a significant amount of energy, which is paid for by taxpayers. Through the installation of energy efficient retrofits, we are being more efficient with our taxpayer dollars. Proposition #6 makes good sense – saving energy through well-crafted energy efficiency retrofits – resulting in energy savings, cost savings and reducing negative impacts on our environment. It pays back in the form of energy savings, and this monthly energy savings can be used to fund future energy efficient upgrades towards making Teton County energy sustainable. The project also will bolster the local construction community – putting people to work, investing local money, and creating local jobs.

JHESP Proposition #6 will have a considerable impact in mitigating some of the future energy and power rates. Lowering power usage throughout our county makes sense, especially with our community’s historical commitment to conservation and innovation. We presently enjoy very low rates for our power; however, new power could be more than double what we presently pay. Because Lower Valley Energy is a cooperative, every kilowatt-hour (kWh) used in the community, regardless of who uses it, costs each and every Lower Valley Energy customer. Without energy conservation measures, we could spend more than $135 million over the next two decades in additional energy costs. This cost increase will affect everything from the price of a gallon of milk to the cost of housing. If we can lower our usage of power as a community, we can mitigate some of the rate increase.

Lower Valley Energy is a cooperative utility – owned by those they serve with any margins returned to its members. Lower Valley Energy listens to and gains direction from its members, works for and serves its members, and is here to provide the least expensive, most reliable energy with the best customer service. Lower Valley Energy appreciates the opportunity to be the area’s utility cooperative and to serve its members.