With school routines resuming throughout the Gorge, local educators and community members are working harder than ever to make sure our kids are safe, healthy and thriving.
As Klickitat Valley Hospital’s outgoing CEO, I’ve directly faced the hurdles of upholding our community’s health infrastructure. From maintaining aging buildings and retaining staff to tackling emergencies like a pandemic, it’s an ongoing challenge — one that’s only been heightened by the current economic volatility and rising inflation rates.
Economic hardship is not new for our community. As someone who was raised in Goldendale, I lived through the harsh ramifications of the aluminum plant closure.
That’s why I’m so encouraged by the promise of the Goldendale Energy Storage Project, a $2 billion clean energy facility being proposed at the former aluminum smelter. Bringing this site back to life would put thousands of people to work while transforming a polluted industrial relic into a sustainable energy and revenue source for our region.
The Goldendale Project represents a rare opportunity to bring back valuable jobs while infusing Klickitat County tax districts with $14 million annually. It would help revitalize our infrastructure, and raise the value of other local assets for decades to come.
That includes Klickitat Valley Hospital, a nonprofit owned by the citizens of the hospital district. The Goldendale Project would contribute $1.2 million annually to the 74-year hospital that is in dire need of renovation. Tragically, a bond measure to fund the hospital’s much-needed expansion has failed four times. This is a rare opportunity to invest in a nonprofit that serves the health of our community through private funds.
Likewise, Goldendale School District has failed to pass critical bond measures. The Goldendale Project would contribute an estimated $3 million to the school district, funding essential repairs and helping build a healthier and more prosperous future for our kids.
As healthcare providers, Klickitat Valley Health supports the transition toward cleaner energy. Pumped storage is one way to maximize the wind and solar energy potential in our region, reduce pollution from fossil fuels, and improve grid reliability.
Why is that important to us? A stable and reliable grid is critical to our ability to provide health care to our community 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. The Goldendale Project will help reduce instances of power outages and keep vital services like public health care running.
The wind turbines in our backyard serve as an everyday reminder that energy is a vital resource which directly impacts our community’s health. We support the Goldendale Energy Storage Project knowing it would benefit residents of Klickitat County, our hospital, and the environmental and economic vitality of our community.
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