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Deuel commission declines to sign RURAL letter urging PUC action on MRES extension request
Summary
A RURAL representative asked the commission to sign a letter to the Public Utilities Commission about a six-month extension request by Missouri River Energy Services; commissioners declined, saying signing could reflect poorly on Deuel County and affect future economic opportunities.
Frank James, representing Rural United for Rural and Ag Land (RURAL), told commissioners that Missouri River Energy Services (MRES) had filed a motion with the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) requesting a six-month extension and asked the board to sign a RURAL-drafted letter to the PUC.
Commissioners discussed the request and declined to sign the letter, expressing concern that attaching Deuel County’s name could portray the county negatively and potentially jeopardize future opportunities to attract projects and businesses. Commissioners did not take a formal vote recorded in the minutes to sign the letter; the decision was to decline the request.
Frank James also noted the results of a recent special election—defeat of the measure by roughly a 2-to-1 margin across precincts—and said that outcome suggested little likelihood the public would back the project if it were reintroduced. Commissioners did not indicate they would submit an independent comment to the PUC at the meeting.
