Patrick Parker for Homer Electric | Patrick for HEA

AN ENGINEER FOR HOMER ELECTRIC

Hello to all my HEA neighbors!

I’m Patrick Parker, 31 year Peninsula resident. Before becoming a software engineer, I worked as an electrician, in the oilfield, and with our school district.

I asked for your vote last year, almost becoming the youngest representative on the HEA board in recent memory -- but lost by 18 votes.

Costs for my family and yours have only gone up since. So I buckled down and met with HEA, industry, and state energy experts and created Patrick’s Practical Plan for a better HEA.

It’s a plan that shows our options for lower costs but it’s also your chance to see how I think as an engineer - and to hold me accountable. You can see the plan directly below.

The decisions our next HEA board makes will impact my family for decades to come. I'm running with hope that we can all turn today's crisis into tomorrow's opportunity. I'd appreciate your vote.

- Patrick Parker

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STAKE IN
OUR
FUTURE

I grew up in Sterling and spent my childhood enjoying the great Alaskan outdoors, riding my bike, canoeing, camping and exploring. The Kenai Peninsula is a truly wonderful place to live, with a tight knit community, good values, great opportunities, and an abundance of natural beauty and resources.

When I graduated from Kenai Peninsula Borough School District in 2007, I knew I didn’t want to leave the Peninsula. I have always enjoyed technology and energy, so I pursued opportunities in the electrical field, including a local apprenticeship and work on the North Slope. After gaining valuable experience, I pursued a role as a lead pump operator in the oil and gas industry, which allowed me to take on projects close to home as well as gain additional work experience on the slope and out on platforms.

Throughout all of these experiences, my lifelong interest in engineering led me into computer sciences and a position with KPBSD as a software developer. I loved working for my local school district and I’m proud of the contributions that I made during my years of service there. In pursuit of new opportunities, I took a role with a nationwide software provider where I am able to expand my skills in software engineering and data analytics, while remaining here on the Kenai Peninsula.

My wife Hannah and I spend our free time hiking, camping, and enjoying community events with friends and family. No matter the season, you’ll find us enjoying the outdoors and all this special place has to offer.

The decisions the next HEA Board makes amidst today's cost crisis will impact our lives for decades to come. With your support, I hope to bring a fresh vision and new voice for long-term solutions.

ACCOUNTABILITY
& AFFORDABILITY

How can we turn today's crisis into opportunity that safeguards our values and our pocketbooks?

REAL OWNERSHIP FOR RISING COSTS

Year after year, we’ve been left waiting for action to tackle rising costs at HEA. My family is exhausted paying ever higher bills. Our board needs to work overtime to get us a serious plan and real shovels in the ground.

ENERGY CLOSER TO HOME

HEA’s dependence on faraway and volatile sources is spiking costs. It’s time to get our local skilled and diligent workforce building the energy projects of the future. This keeps our dollars here at home and grows jobs.

TRANSPARENCY WITH DATA

As an engineer, I know how much data matters to making smart choices. I want our members to know what’s happening at HEA, with less closed door board meetings and more public listening and honest plans for members to see.

Patrick's PLAN
FOR HEA

Thank you for showing interest in my practical approach to ensuring that we have a cost-effective, robust, and stable electrical grid not just in the short-term but for decades to come. This multi-tiered plan addresses new energy sources on three different levels. The goal of this plan is to diversify our energy production using fuel-free energy sources that aren’t susceptible to wild price fluctuations.

The initial step of this plan is about empowering you and your family to produce your own energy. By expanding the availability of affordable solar systems, such as plug-in solar, it becomes easier for everyone to participate in energy generation. To make this even more accessible, there's a proposal to offer HEA-sponsored loans for home solar systems, which could be conveniently paid off with your regular utility bill.

LOCAL ENERGY GENERATION

Moving on to a larger scale, there's an opportunity to explore the implementation of grid-scale solar energy. This approach not only provides a steady stream of power but also has the potential to create jobs and opportunities right here in our community. By introducing large new energy installations, we can significantly reduce the amount of gas used by the utility, driving gas costs down, which will not only affect electrical rates, but reduce costs on the gas we use to heat our homes.

GRID SCALE SOLAR

The third part of this plan involves a broader approach - working collaboratively with other utilities across the state. By pooling resources and expertise, we can develop large-scale alternative energy sources such as wind, solar, geothermal, and hydro energy. This collaboration could significantly bolster the overall strength and resilience of our energy grid.