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OFFICE OF REGIONAL & COMMUNITY RELATIONS
Aaron Hoard, Deputy Director
December 18, 2019
Hearing Examiner, City of Renton
c/o City Clerk’s Office
Renton City Hall
1055 S. Grady Way
Renton, WA 98057
RE: University of Washington Comments for Energize Eastside Conditional Use Permit #LUA18-000055
Dear Hearing Examiner:
The University of Washington appreciates the opportunity to provide input on the Conditional Use Permit for the
Renton Segment of Puget Sound Energy’s Energize Eastside project.
The University has a strong and growing presence on the Eastside for students and patients. Here are a few highlights:
UW’s Professional and Continuing Education Program offers 119 courses on the Eastside associated with 21
certificate programs and two graduate degrees. Last year, more than 600 students were served by these
courses.
UW Medicine Neighborhood Clinics are located in Bellevue, Issaquah, and Woodinville. These clinics served
over 34,000 individual patients last year.
The Foster School of Business operates an Eastside Executive Center located in Kirkland. More than 130
students are registered in the Technology Management MBA Program there.
The new Global Innovation Exchange (GIX) in Bellevue is anticipated to serve more than 3,000 students by
2025. This program provides students with project-based learning through a pioneering new partnership
established jointly by the University of Washington and Tsinghua University.
The need for reliable power in our region, especially on the Eastside, is essential for UW’s educational access. The
University prepares students for successful lives and contributions to the economy, expanding research and
scholarship that will foster innovation in the Puget Sound. We can’t do this without reliable power for our facilities.
As such, we request that the Conditional Use Permit for the Renton Segment of the Energize Eastside project be
approved. Alternatives that may lead to blackouts or create uncertainty are not acceptable. We also request that the
process continue to move forward with no delay as time is of the essence for ensuring the Eastside’s ongoing
electrical reliability.
Sincerely,
Aaron Hoard, Deputy Director
Office of Regional and Community Relations
218 Gerberding Hall Box 351243 Seattle, Washington 98195-1243 206/221-7684 ahoard@uw.edu
www.washington.edu/community/