BDA Rallies to Support Energize Eastside Permitting

March 22, 2019 - by Matt Jack, BDA Policy Manager

BDA Rallies to Support Energize Eastside Permitting

After years of public discussion and evaluation, a hearing examiner is expected to rule on Puget Sound Energy’s permit applications for the Energize Eastside transmission upgrades for the project’s south segment of Bellevue. The public comment period is currently open, and a public hearing is scheduled for March 28.

Consistent with past advocacy efforts, the BDA Board of Directors unanimously voted on March 19 to support the City of Bellevue’s staff recommendation for Conditional Use Permit (CUP) and Critical Areas Land Use Permit (CALUP) necessary to advance construction of Energize Eastside. A letter of support will be submitted to the hearing examiner on March 28, alongside BDA staff remarks.

Studies consistently conclude updating the 50+-year-old transmission corridor is necessary to support population and job growth, further economic activity, and quality of life on the Eastside. In January the City of Bellevue Land Use Division published its report recommending approval of the CUP and CALUP with a list of design conditions to mitigate environmental impacts. The findings consistently demonstrate the urgency to update the system. According to the October 2015 Puget Sound Energy Energize Eastside Outage Cost Study, the Eastside area has been operating in a vulnerable period of potential rolling blackouts since last summer. The risk increases by 2.4% each year, putting reliable electricity for our communities and economic stability in jeopardy.

RESOURCES

HOW TO SHARE FEEDBACK

Written Comments
Hearing Examiner's Office
450 - 110th AVE NE
Bellevue, WA 98004
hearingexaminer@bellevuewa.gov

Oral Comments
Public Hearing
Thursday, March 28, 2019
Bellevue City Hall Council Chambers 1E-126
Beginning at 6 p.m.