Schweitzer opposes natural gas ban

MOSCOW — Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories founder and President Edmund Schweitzer does not want Washington state to ban natural gas, even if that would be better for SEL’s business.

Schweitzer was the featured speaker Wednesday during the Moscow Chamber of Commerce monthly luncheon.

He spoke about a variety of topics, including his concerns that Washington will eventually prohibit natural gas.

“Gov. Inslee believes he’s got a better idea about what kind of fuel you should use if you happen to live over there or build a building over there,” he said.

HB 1589, a bill pushing large utility companies to prioritize electrification over natural gas, has made it to the governor’s desk. Those who oppose the bill say it will clear the way for a natural gas ban.

Schweitzer said SEL’s property manager, Jana Schultheis, did a study that shows if a natural gas ban becomes law, SEL would have to double the size of its electrical service.

That might be good for SEL’s business, Schweitzer said, because the company would sell more of its products that protect electrical power grids. But he believes it is “just plain wrong.”

“It’s wrongheaded to take away that kind of choice from people,” he said. “Makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck and I hope it does yours, too.”

Another issue Schweitzer is concerned about relates to health care transparency. Michele Beehler, director of SEL health and wellbeing, testified in front of Congress in January urging lawmakers to make it easier for employers to access claims data, and to anticipate hospital prices.

Schweitzer said SEL recently went through an “arduous” 18-month process to access its claims data.

“We’re self-insured and we can’t even get our own claims data,” he said.

He said this data helps SEL review contracts, avoid hidden fees, identify price discrepancy, manage its own prescription drug program and contract directly with hospitals like Pullman Regional Hospital. SEL provides its own medical staff and health clinics.

“We need this kind of transparency, and we need to be able to ask for that,” Schweitzer said.

This month marks the one-year anniversary of operations for SEL’s Moscow printed circuit board factory. The 162,000-square-foot manufacturing facility on U.S. Highway 95 has 92 employees. It pays $2 million in property taxes, according to SEL.

Kuipers can be reached at akuipers@dnews.com.