Community EventLatest
LWV 2026 Candidate Forum
Thursday, October 15th at 7 p.m. — Lyle Lyons, 5th & State (Hwy 14), Lyle, WA. Visit the League of Women Voters' Facebook page to submit your questions in advance.
Re-Elect
Dan Gunkel
PUD Commissioner · Klickitat County
Over three decades of steady leadership & experience
Dan Gunkel at Renewable Natural Gas Facility
PUD Commissioner
Leadership isn't learned overnight, and our community can't afford a trial-and-error period. While my opponent offers PROMISES of what they might do, my record offers PROVEN RESULTS of what I have already delivered.
Dan Gunkel
PUD Commissioner, Klickitat County, since 1991
H.W. Hill Renewable Natural Gas Facility — KPUD turned waste into clean energy, securing a major contract through 2041 that supports local jobs and long-term rate stability.
About Dan
Proven Leadership for Klickitat PUD
Dan's connection to Klickitat County runs deep. Raised on a working farm near Goldendale, he learned early that reliable electricity isn't a luxury — it's the foundation of rural life. When the power goes out, crops don't get irrigated, businesses close, and families struggle. That understanding has guided every decision he's made as commissioner.
In his time serving Klickitat PUD, Dan Gunkel hasn't just talked about infrastructure - he has built it. Under his leadership, KPUD has successfully completed critical generation and transmission projects that serve as the backbone of our local economy. These strategic investments produce millions of dollars in profits and savings, directly offsetting rates increases for you, the customer.
Dan is a straight talker. He attends every board meeting, reads every report, and makes himself available to constituents who have questions or concerns. He believes that a public utility should be transparent, responsive, and focused on the long-term health of the community — not short-term politics.
Record of Service
Elected to Klickitat County PUD Board of Commissioners
Elected to Energy Northwest Executive Board
McNary 10 mega-watt project commercial operation, cost $29 million
Chair of the Nuclear Oversight Committee
H.W. Hill Renewable Natural Gas Facility — KPUD turned waste into clean energy, securing a major contract through 2041 that supports local jobs and long-term rate stability.
Led massive build-out of Willis, Energizer, Dooley, Harvest Wind and White Creek Substations, alongside miles of high voltage transmission lines. Our system now generates revenue by moving power for others, further stabilizing our customers' rates.
Re-elected. Developed PUD policies to guarantee customer rates do NOT increase because of new large load clients (Data/AI centers).
Launched grid resilience initiative to prepare for increased wildfire, weather risk and ride-a-way maintenance - increasing reliability.
“Built it. Know it. Qualified and Ready for what's next.”
— Dan Gunkel
What Dan Stands For
Unmatched Reliability and Infrastructure with Strategic Energy Independence
01
Reliable & Affordable Power
Dan has moved our residential rates from one of the highest in the state to 10th, while investing in infrastructure upgrades. This infrastructure is the reason our county can serve new industrial loads and why our reliability has soared from 10-day outages to 99.99% uptime. Furthermore, our system now generates revenue by moving power for others, further stabilizing our local rates.
02
Strategic Energy Independence
Diversifying Klickitat County's energy portfolio to reduce dependence on outside sources and protect ratepayers from volatile market prices. Dan's record includes the McNary Fishway Hydro Project, a $29 million effort that provides clean, carbon-free power to our county at a cost substantially lower than BPA. This project ensures 100% of its KPUD generation is used to serve the local customer load.
03
Grid Resilience & Modernization
Investing in infrastructure that can withstand wildfire, extreme weather, and growing demand — keeping the county powered through whatever comes next. Dan led the massive build-out of the Willis, Energizer, Dooley, Harvest Wind and White Creek Substations. Reliability isn't glamorous, but it is essential.
04
Fiscal Accountability
KPUD was a B rated utility when I took office, after setting achievable financial goals and executing well on building generation projects that produce cash flow to offset rate increases, the rating agencies upgraded KPUD to a stable A rated utility in 2025. The stable A rating was affirmed in 2026. The upgrade will save ratepayers a lot of money on the interest paid on bond that may be issued for capitol projects.
PROVEN RESULTS, NOT PROMISES!
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to common questions about Dan Gunkel, the PUD, and this campaign.
Reference Materials
Download documents and reports relevant to Klickitat PUD and the issues that matter to our community.
2026 Data/AI Center Report by Stack
PDF Document
Open / Download2026 Data Center Cooling Report
PDF Document
Open / DownloadKPUD Washington State Audit
2024 SAO Accountability Audit Report — PDF Document
Open / DownloadKPUD Independent Audit
Baker Tilly Financial Audit 2025 & 2024 — PDF Document
Open / Download2026 Reliability & Rates
KPUD Rates and Reliability Report — PDF Document
Open / DownloadGoldendale Energy Storage Project Website
goldendaleenergystorage.com
Visit WebsiteLarge Load Interconnection Procedure
KPUD Large End Use Load Interconnection Process — PDF Document
Open / DownloadKPUD July Financial Summary
Finance Presentation from September 23, 2026 Meeting — PDF Document
Open / DownloadNDA Press Release
For Immediate Release — September 22, 2026 — PDF Document
Open / DownloadNews
Campaign News
Campaign Update
Dan Gunkel Announces Re-Election Bid
After three decades of service, Commissioner Gunkel is asking Klickitat County voters for another term to continue the work of keeping rates low and the grid reliable.
From the Community
What neighbors are saying
“Dan has kept our rates the very reasonable, while making sure the lights stay on. That's exactly what we need from a PUD Commissioner.”
Local Farmer
Goldendale, WA
“He shows up to every meeting, answers every question, and never plays politics with our power. That's rare.”
Small Business Owner
White Salmon, WA
“Dan’s experience has been demonstrated at some of the PUD Board meetings I have attended in the last six-plus years. Just recently a large group of citizens attended a board meeting that I was attending. They came with rumors and incorrect information they had seen on social media. Dan took the lead with his responses, based on both his historical and recent knowledge of the issues that they questioned. He calmly and thoroughly answered every question. I believe they went away with a better understanding of the issues they were inquiring about. It appeared they were pleased with his and other PUD officials’ answers that addressed their concerns. I was impressed with his quick and thorough responses. Please keep in mind the history of the utility that Dan possesses and the history of the service area that he has experienced. I think we need to keep the balance. I support Dan 100%. I have seen him in action for over 50 years”
Larry Hocter
Goldendale, WA
Get in Touch
Contact Dan
Have a question about the campaign or the PUD? Dan reads every message.