To the editor:

Like most residents of Bainbridge Island, I rarely think about our electrical energy source when I review my monthly Puget Sound Energy bill. An article in last week’s Bainbridge Review revealed that the citizens group, Island Power, is exploring the creation of a local public power utility.

I had been unaware of the possibility for a local community to acquire electricity directly from the Bonneville Power Administration. Once considered, however, creation of an island public utility offers so many benefits to the community that it deserves thorough examination.

Consider each of the following benefits of an island-controlled utility: BPA is required by law to provide power to new public utilities and at low cost; a community utility provides local control over power infrastructure and delivery decisions including, for example, where to place lines underground; revenue from the sale of electricity would stay in the community to fund local jobs that stimulate our island economy (PSE is foreign-owned); additionally, BPA is a reliable provider of energy that generates its power carbon free.

The success of neighboring Jefferson County in their conversion to a public utility two years ago shows that this transition is readily achievable. I encourage our community to engage in the discussion and consider creating our own Bainbridge Island power utility.

TOM GOODLIN

Toe Jam Hill