City hall should focus on other issues | LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Published 10:46 am Tuesday, July 19, 2016

To the editor:

The cost, source and reliability of our electrical power is of great importance to the Bainbridge Island business community.

After much discussion, the board of directors of the Bainbridge Island Chamber of Commerce has decided to comment on the Island Power proposal currently before the city council. Specifically, a group of citizens proposes that the council fund a feasibility study as to whether the city of Bainbridge Island should purchase the existing power grid from Puget Sound Energy and run its own electrical utility.

We are quite fortunate to live and work in a place with an informed and politically active citizenry and we appreciate Island Power raising the issue before the council. However, given the slate of projects currently before the council and the various civic issues facing the island, the board is concerned about the use of city funds, nearly $100,000 as of the last proposal, to finance this proposed study. We would like to encourage the city and the public to consider focusing instead on gathering concerns and suggestions, and to work with Puget Sound Energy to see what can be done together collaboratively.

As we know, power reliability is an important issue on the island. Certain necessary infrastructure improvements are needed and the board feels that PSE is positioned to implement these. Over the past decade PSE has proposed infrastructure improvements that would have prevented many of the power outages we’ve experienced over the last several years. The board would like to encourage the island’s citizens, businesses and the city council to further investigate and support future improvements.

The chamber would be happy to assist such a discussion between the city, PSE, citizens and the business community in whatever way it can. The board encourages citizens who feel similarly to contact their city councilors and to attend future public hearings. This is a matter of great importance to our island and we look forward to hearing from all interested voices.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Bainbridge Island Chamber of Commerce