[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 90 (Tuesday, May 24, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E552]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                               KENT LOPEZ

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DAN NEWHOUSE

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 24, 2022

  Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the upcoming 
retirement of Kent Lopez as General Manager of the Washington Rural 
Electric Cooperative Association.
  For nearly 17 years, Kent has diligently represented the interests of 
these 14 not-for-profit, rural electric coops and has advocated for the 
interests of consumer-owned utilities for more than 40 years.
  Whether it's my home co-op of Benton REA in Central Washington, 
Okanogan County Electric and Nespelem Valley Electric to our north; or 
Big Bend Electric just next door, Kent has dutifully executed his 
charge of ensuring that hundreds of thousands of rural Washingtonians 
have access to the affordable, reliable, and abundant renewable cost-
based benefits of the Federal Columbia River Power System--a system 
critically important to the well-being of the Pacific Northwest.
  But come July 1st, Kent will hang up his coat and focus on the long 
``honey-do'' list his lovely wife Cindy has ready for him.
  I wish Kent good luck in retirement; he has earned it.

                          ____________________