By Pepper Fisher
CLALLAM COUNTY – John Purvis, Clallam County PUD’s Assistant General Manager of Engineering, is calling statements made about him by a candidate for PUD Board Commissioner libelous, demonstrably false, and damaging to him professionally.
The statement he’s referring to was made by current Board candidate Ken Hayes during a call-in forum on the Todd Ortloff Show on October 20. Hayes was debating with his opponent, incumbent Commissioner Will Purser. At one point, on the subject of large-scale battery power storage, Hayes said, “I’ve also heard lead engineer John Purvis say publicly that he does not believe in battery storage, and the current battery technology, or that it will ever go anywhere, which is of course absurd”.
Four days later, at the October 24 PUD Commission meeting, Purvis presented a public comment letter contending Hayes’ statement was both erroneous and damaging to his professional reputation. He formally asked “that all reasonable actions be taken to correct the misinformation about me, and attempt to undo the damage done”.
Purvis says he has, in fact, spearheaded the effort for the PUD to pursue a 9.6-million-dollar large scale battery project. On his recommendation, Purvis says the board authorized a restricted account to fund the project, and that additional funds have been added to the account in subsequent budgets.
An email from the PUD, sent to KONP, reads in part; “The Board supports Mr. Purvis, and having reviewed the background facts, agrees that this incorrect statement is harmful to the positive community partnerships and customer relations that he and other PUD staff have cultivated. While the Board nor the District take any position with regard to elections, the Board finds it necessary to correct inaccurate factual statements concerning its functionality and personnel. We respectfully request that KONP take reasonable measures to mitigate the damage this false statement may cause…”
We reached out to candidate Ken Hayes for comment, and here’s what he said.
“I don’t have a comment. I have no idea what I’m commenting on. My impression is, he doesn’t loudly advocate for the future of battery storage, generally, or for transportation. I may be wrong, but that’s my impression. And I don’t see how that could possibly damage his reputation, or with who, for that matter.”
We also reached to John Purvis but had not heard back by airtime. We will update our story if he returns our call.
Here is the full text of the statement from John Purvis;
Today I am speaking to the board on personal time off to make a statement:
On October 20, 2022 while in a debate broadcasted and recorded by KONP, Ken Hays, a candidate for PUD Commissioner, made a statement singling me out by name: “I’ve also heard lead engineer John Purvis say publicly that he does not believe in battery storage, and the current battery technology, or that it will ever go anywhere, which is of course absurd”. The audio link is posted to the Todd Ortloff show at MyClallamCounty.com and the statement was made 15 minutes into the debate. I believe this statement is a libelous and a demonstrably false characterization of my position, and damaging to me professionally. I have never made a statement remotely similar to what Ken Hays attributed to me.
On the PUD public website is a presentation titled “Future Power Supply Options & CETA” dated 9/14/2020, as is an audio recording of the board meeting. Starting at presentation page 76 is my discussion of near future financial viability of a proposed 9.6-million-dollar large scale battery project. The battery will reduce BPA demand charges and lower rates for customers. On my recommendation, the board authorized a restricted account to fund the project as battery costs decline to the point of financial viability. Additional funds were added to the account in subsequent budgets. The planned PUD battery project was originated by me and is clear evidence of my position on batteries, as are other recorded statements made to the board.
I regularly work with community leaders and organizations whose members have heard the disparaging false statement about me in the broadcast. This includes county and municipal leaders, utility organizations and professionals, as well as the EDC, NODC, PNNL and Tribes. It is very likely there will be a loss of trust and harm to the District’s collaborative efforts on energy projects with our partners in the community.
During my 39-year energy systems career in the US Navy and public utilities, I have never publicly commented on false statements made in political campaigns. But the recent disparaging and damaging statement falsely attributed to me and broadcast to the community is far outside of any acceptable boundaries, even for politics.
I respectfully request this board authorize the general manager to take specific action to mitigate this injustice and damage to my professional reputation, and the collateral damage to the District. This should include prominently displaying this statement on the public PUD website and forwarding the same statement to all PUD employees. And also, to draft a cover letter to this statement and forward to KONP and the Ken Hays campaign. The cover letter should request that all reasonable actions be taken to correct the misinformation about me, and attempt to undo the damage done. Lastly, I request this complete statement appear in its entirety in board minutes for this meeting.
Thank you and I will now excuse myself from this meeting.
John Purvis, PE
Assistant General Manager Clallam County PUD