Seven Reasons For Hope

By Don Marsh, CENSE CEO

Printed as a courtesy to Coalition of Eastside Neighborhoods for Sensible Energy

On November 14, the Bellevue City Council unanimously rejected five appeals related to PSE’s “Energize Eastside” project, the big transmission line upgrade that PSE announced in late 2013.

Given six years of hard work by citizen volunteers, industry experts, and the CENSE attorney, this is a disappointing outcome, to be sure.  At press time, CENSE is contemplating a challenge in Superior Court.

Besides court action, there are many reasons why residents should remain hopeful that the expensive and harmful project will not be built.  Here are seven reasons to hope:

  1. Declining demand

Peak demand for electricity in the winter has fallen approximately 10% during the past decade, according to PSE’s federal reporting.  PSE’s main reason for building the project has evaporated. PSE’s forecasts were simply wrong.

  1. Batteries

Battery technology has advanced faster than anyone expected, partly due to the growing popularity of electric vehicles.  Grid-sized batteries have now become a feasible solution for the Eastside’s needs, providing better year-round reliability for less cost and less harm than PSE’s transmission line.  It is becoming increasingly awkward for PSE to deny these facts as more utilities turn to batteries for enhanced reliability and storage of renewable energy.

  1. BPA cancels transmission line

Two years ago, the Bonneville Power Administration canceled a controversial transmission line across the Washington-Oregon border.  The agency found that batteries and smart technology could meet the need and save customers hundreds of millions of dollars. CENSE will show how similar solutions would work for the Eastside.

  1. Clean Energy Transformation Act

Earlier this year, the state legislature approved a landmark bill that mandates a transition from fossil fuels to renewables and advanced conservation technologies. This bill is having a decisive impact on PSE, because almost 60% of PSE’s electricity is generated by burning coal or fracked natural gas.  Necessary changes to PSE’s long-range plans could significantly postpone or cancel Energize Eastside.

  1. Newcastle hearing

Newcastle is skeptical of the need and benefits of Energize Eastside for their city because the project is targeted to serve growth in downtown Bellevue and the Spring District.  The city of Newcastle hired an independent consulting firm to analyze the need for the project. PSE has not yet released all the data requested by the consultant, delaying the final report by many months.

  1. Renton hearing

The current transmission lines are more than adequate to meet Renton’s present and future peak demand. Lacking a demonstrated benefit for its citizens, is Renton willing to accept tall poles and disruptive construction to serve as an extension cord for Bellevue?  PSE must answer this and other hard questions when Renton holds its public hearing next year.

  1. Referendum in 2020

PSE is an opaque corporation, unaccountable to its customers, and controlled by foreign investors.  Many citizens and environmental organizations are ready to “Take Our Power Back.” The shortest path to clean, reliable, affordable electricity would be a public utility like those that serve Seattle, Tacoma, and Snohomish.  You can sign the petition to place a referendum on the 2020 ballot to create East King County Public Utility District 1 (see www.ekc-pud.org).  If successful, the new utility would nix Energize Eastside before construction ever begins.

It is likely that 2020 will be a decisive year, no matter which fate awaits Energize Eastside.  As always, CENSE is very grateful for the financial and moral support of Bellevue neighborhoods.  Over 90% of each donation pays for legal counsel and expert witnesses at land use hearings. As we enter this final stretch, please help by donating at cense.org/donate.

More news:

Bellevue Council rejects citizen appeals

Power struggle on the Eastside: Crucial ruling ahead in battle over 16-mile power line