Once again, the left is touting something amiss that needs to be investigated! The so-called controversy is that Whitefish has been awarding a $300 million contract to repair the power grid in Puerto Rico, because of their connection to Secretary Zinke. Who is Whitefish, a small electrical company in Whitefish Montana where Secretary Ryan Zinke hails? The chief executive Andy Techmansk and Zinke are familiar with each other as it is a small town where everyone knows one another.
Now the left such as Politico are screaming that this is insider dealings, Zinke gave this contract to his friends! As usual without proof that any of their allegations are true!
“The power authority, also known as PREPA, opted to hire Whitefish rather than activate the “mutual aid” arrangements it has with other utilities. For many years, such agreements have helped U.S. utilities — including those in Florida and Texas recently — to recover quickly after natural disasters.According to PREPA’s executive director, Ricardo Ramos, the only reason they choice Whitefish: “On a tour of the idled Palo Seco power plant, Ramos told reporters that Whitefish was the first company “available to arrive and they were the ones that first accepted terms and conditions for PREPA.”
“Ramos said that the utility is “completely content” with the work Whitefish is doing. “The doubts that have been raised about Whitefish, from my point of view, are completely unfounded,” he added, saying that concerns about Whitefish were probably spread by jealous competitors.” Washington Post
Montana based company has had more experience in the type of terrain which is more conducive to Puerto Rico mountainous lands.
“Kent McNellie, an investment professional at HBC, the Texas investment firm that is now the largest financier of Whitefish, said the company’s experience reconstructing a one-mile power line destroyed in a wildfire in Washington state was more relevant to Puerto Rico’s needs than is the experience of many companies on the mainland. The span in Washington included an elevation change of about 5,000 feet, and the terrain required crews and equipment to be delivered by helicopter.” Washington Post
“Most guys go up in a 30-foot bucket truck, and they can do that from Texas to New York, but you don’t need an army of bucket trucks,” McNellie said. “Andy realized you had a transmission problem and that requires 90-foot buckets, 100-foot ladders and helicopters — that’s not the typical crew you can get through mutual aid.” Washington Post
While Techmanski did contact Zinke office for help in expediting the movement of men and equipment, Zinke did not contact anyone to do so.
“Zinke’s office said he had no role in Whitefish securing the contract for work in Puerto Rico. Techmanski also said Zinke was not involved.” Washington Post
Once again we have the left trying to put a spotlight on anyone in the Trump Cabinet, as not to keep the focus on what is really factual, the fake dossier and the Uranium One deal, real corruption from the Obama administration, the Clintons and the DNC!