HomeMy WebLinkAboutC_Public_Comment_66
January 5th, 2020
Hearing Examiner’s Office
Renton City Hall
1055 S. Grady Way
Renton, WA 98057
Dear Mr. Ding,
On June 20th, 2019 the Newcastle Chamber Board unanimously voted to support the PSE “Energize Eastside” project.
Our Chamber motto is: “We help you succeed every day,” and we believe that it is vital to ensure that our eastside
communities have an up-to-date, reliable and robust energy delivery system to not only address the needs of today, but
those of our growing communities for decades to come.
While we understand that there are differing opinions among some of our citizens as to the necessity of the proposed
power system upgrade, after reviewing the pros and cons of various other proposals, we feel strongly that it is in the
best interest of the citizens of Newcastle as well as our neighboring communities for the Energize Eastside project to
proceed as proposed.
We further believe that in addition to upgrading our current power delivery system, efforts to conserve energy must
also be advanced. Yet relying entirely on conservation to meet the growing energy needs of our eastside communities
does not appear to be a viable option. And this approach would not address the slow deterioration of the current aging
system. Nor would conservation alone provide us with an energy delivery system that is better equipped to withstand
major earthquakes and other natural disasters.
Co-locating the upgraded system in the current utility corridor appears to make the most sense from a fiscal and safety
as well as esthetic standpoint. And after reviewing the proposed poles and utility structures, we believe that the new
structures will be an enhancement rather than a detraction.
To summarize, we believe it is in the best interest of our business community and Newcastle residents for the PSE
Energize Eastside project to proceed as outlined in the existing utility corridor.
Sincerely,
Karin Frost Blakley, Newcastle Chamber of Commerce President_____________________________________
Mark Hutcheson, Newcastle Chamber of Commerce Vice President___________________________________
Amy George, Newcastle Chamber of Commerce Treasurer__________________________________________
Dani Hastings, Newcastle Chamber of Commerce Secretary_________________________________________
Norma McKinney, Newcastle Chamber of Commerce Board Member__________________________________
Clare Vellek, Newcastle Chamber of Commerce Board Member______________________________________
6947 Coal Creek Parkway SE, #150, Newcastle, WA 98059 (425) 316-9964 Newcastlechamber059@gmail.com