Local Energy Company Evicted: $113,000 Owed In Back Rent

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By Chelsea Kopta

Summary

KEPR discovered it's not just homeowners and renters who struggle to make rent. Action News found local energy company, Green Power, was recently evicted after it failed to pay $113,000 in rent.

Story Published: Sep 7, 2010 at 5:46 PM PST

PASCO, Wa. -- It's not just homeowners and renters who struggle to make rent. Action News found local energy company, Green Power Inc., was recently evicted after it failed to pay $113,000 in back rent.

KEPR found the Port of Pasco went to their board of commissioners for a judgment against Green Power after the payments weren't made, which amounted to about there months worth of rent. Afterwards, a judge ruled Port officials could take the property back. In late August, the Franklin County Sheriff's Office posted an eviction notice.

Before they were evicted, Toomey said Green Power had another pending legal problem with a local electrical contractor.

Green Power CEO, Michael P. Spitzauer, said the company is renegotiating its lease and expects to be back in the Port this week.

Port officials will meet with energy company officials this Thursday but Toomey said they will only reconsider Green Power moving back in under certain conditions. According to the Port, Green Power has to complete any pending sales, resolve the issue with the electrical contractor, and make sure the company has a valid business license in the City of Pasco which is in writing.

Toomey said the conditions were not a guarantee that Green Power's lease would be renewed.

"This particular company, it's not a small amount of money so it's not as if they could write a check," Jim Toomey said, spokesperson for the Port of Pasco. "This is probably the largest judgment we've had since I've been here, I believe."

This is the second time Green Power ran into problems in the last year. In June, the Washington State Department of Ecology fined the company for building a synthetic fuel reactor without the right permit, they they alleged could have been dangerous.