Power study goes in wrong direction | LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Published 11:09 am Tuesday, June 28, 2016

To the editor:

The letter “Don’t scrimp on power study for new city utility” (June 3) is both intellectually and morally wrong!

It does NOT address how using Bonneville power will actually cut CO2 release here while we continue to contribute to our own CO2 release through our own waste and further waste financial resources through ‘studies’ better used elsewhere.

The four waste streams currently trucked off the island were previously mentioned. To follow up, I would like to suggest a more immediate and much cheaper (FREE!) study:

The overall concept consists of four teams of three each to study (via Google) the following:

Fuel cells in the megawatt class;

Biogesters (anerobic);

Site analysis under the overview of Bainbridge Disposal; and

Administrative  stuff: i.e. a Memorandum of Understanding between the city of Bainbridge Island and Bainbridge Disposal, review of any power purchase agreement, necessary permits-public health, Department of Ecology and Legislative liaison with our state representatives and possibly, the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural resources.

I submit that such a study could within one week come up with some idea of what a municipal power plant might look like and further might enable the city council to invite a sales rep for the best fuel cell/digester the study might recommend and THEN, and only then, get into an actual contract discussion re: the power purchase agreement and all incentives available.

ROTH HAFER

Bainbridge Island