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CONTACT: Kurt Hammond, Senior Public Information Officer | 360-786-7794
Rep. Tom Dent receives ‘2023 Legislative Champion’ award from Washington Public Utility Districts Association
The Washington Public Utility Districts Association (WPUDA) has named Rep. Tom Dent, R-Moses Lake, as the recipient of its 2023 Legislative Champion Award. The award honors a member from the Washington State Legislature or U.S. Congress for their commitment to Public Utility Districts (PUDs).
Dent was chosen for his sponsorship of House Bill 1032, legislation that mitigates the risk of wildfires through electric utility planning and identification of best management practices of each electric utility’s circumstances.
“I am humbled, honored, and very appreciative that the association has recognized me for this award. However, I want to thank them for working with me on this important issue. The legislation was well-vetted and we came up with a strong, comprehensive plan,” said Dent.
Dent, who created the bipartisan Wildfire Caucus and has made developing solutions to prevent devastating wildfires in Washington state a priority since he arrived in Olympia, introduced the bill due to wildfires across the country involving electric utilities in recent years.
“The association and I have the same goal. We want to protect our state’s natural resources, property, and human life from wildfires. The new law is a good process for dealing with the risk given the approximate 36,000 miles of powerlines we have in Washington state,” said Dent.
The association presented Dent with his award at a ceremony on April 18.