Tag Archives: energy

Power and parks

In case you missed it, the city (again) opted to keep moving forward with its plan for Strawberry Plant Park. A property dispute has forced the city to shave a 10-foot-wide strip off the park’s beach restoration area. It’s not a big change, city staff say, but the dispute re-sparked debate over whether the plan should be carried out. Read more HERE.

Also this week, the city, Puget Sound Energy and citizen groups continued to work on ways to reduce the island’s energy dependence and the need for high-capacity power lines and a new substation. More on that HERE.

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Franz: Bainbridge must change its energy consumption

Councilwoman Hilary Franz submitted a guest column urging energy conservation to avert the need for a new power substation on the island. Her column is below.

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This week, Puget Sound Energy held a public meeting at the Bainbridge Commons to discuss a proposed substation and transmission lines for Bainbridge Island.  As they shared at the meeting, PSE is bound by the electrical needs of our community. Due to the growth of our Island’s power demand, PSE is forecasting that they will need to begin the construction of a new power transmission substation as early as 2011.

I believe that our island is in the position of delaying or averting the installation of the proposed 25 MVA substation in 2011.  To get there, however, will take the commitment of all of our community to energy efficiency, changing energy usage habits, and alternative energy. It will require approximately 1 to 2 MW per year reduction in our peak demand. PSE announced at the meeting that they are willing to work with the community and develop ways in which conservation may be used to meet this ambitious goal. We should take them up on this offer.

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Can Bainbridge achieve energy independence?

A Vashon Island environmental research group thinks Bainbridge has a good shot at energy independence.

But Kitsap Sun readers apparently don’t.

My story about Institute of Environmental Research and Education director Rita Schenck’s appearance at the Bainbridge Environmental Conference sparked quite a discussion at the Sun’s Web site this weekend. You can check out the story below or by clicking here, where you can weigh in about Bainbridge’s chances of saving and making enough energy to achieve self-sufficiency.

To learn more about IERE, visit its Web site here.

For the IERE’s energy plan for Vashon, go here and click on “Energy Independent Communities” to download the report.

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Environmental conference emits ‘postive energy’

The Association of Bainbridge Communities’ 8th annual environmental conference next week will focus on the topic of energy.

Billed as a “Postive Energy” event, speakers and discussions will focus on renewable energy and energy conservation.

Speakers include Sen. Phil Rockefeller, who will discuss state energy issues, and Institute for Environmental Research and Education director Rita Schenk, who will outline what Bainbridge can learn from Vashon Island’s clean energy initiatives.

Bainbridge City Councilwoman Hilary Franz will moderate a discussion about green transportation, and Sustainable Bainbridge’s Van Calvez will lead a discussion on home energy efficiency.

The conference is from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sept. 13 at the IslandWood environmental learning center on Blakely Avenue. The $20 registration includes a continental breakfast. For more information, contact Connie Waddington at (206) 842-9483.

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