Happy Holidays All...

Jefferson PUD#1 Commission meetings commence in the New Year, Wednesday, January 7th, start 5 PM.

PUD Meeting Location - at PUD office on 230 Chimacum Rd., ( "old Hadlock Post Office" ).

Meetings are the first and third Wednesday of the month. Agendas are usually published online on the Jeff PUD website.
http://pud.co.jefferson.wa.us/

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Battle with the Banks over Local Power
http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/20081215_rep_dennis_kucinich_on_his_battle_with_the_banks/

PSE invests in new Wind Power
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008524490_pugetenergy16.html?syndication=rss

Artic Ice Melt Accelerating
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7786910.stm

Americans Driving Less
http://www.idahostatesman.com/localnews/story/606333.html
Americans have driven about 100 billion miles less over the past year than
in the year before - that's 50 Million Tons of CO2 not emitted (at avg
20MPG)

Obama's Energy Team Announced
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/story?id=54323&src=rss

One other note: Senator Patty Murray, speaking at the recent WPUDA Annual
Meeting, indicated the new administration will be investing in
infrastructure with energy centerpoint in that investment. The Senator
asked PUD membership to bring to her attention any energy projects ready for
investment.

Happy Holidays and Enjoy the Snow!
Bill

More than 53% favor electricity in local hands in East Jefferson County

Greetings Local 2020 Energy Action...

Port Townsend City Council's Alternative Electric Management Committee (AEMC)
The AEMC met this past week, December 3rd, for the first time since the November election gave authority to Jefferson PUD #1 to pursue formation of an electric utility. AEMC discussed possible next steps in support of this initiative and will meet again before City Council meets for their planned retreat January 24th.

Next steps may include recommendation to the Council regarding the AEMC's ongoing role, recommendations on renewal energy and conservation, outreach to and with Jefferson PUD #1 with respect to formation of an electric utility, evaluation of how a municipal electric utility might advance our interests. AEMC will attempt to have Hittle & Associates attend its next session to discuss next steps.

Other noteworthy items

Wind Project in Grays Harbor
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2008/12/07/local_news/01news.txt

Northwest Solar Center - WSU/SCC - Incentive Chart Senate Bill 5101
http://web.me.com/green_island_trust/Northwest_Solar_Center/Incentive_chart.html
Mike Nelson, Solar Energy Advocate from Northwest Solar Center presented at the annual WPUDA meeting this week. Mike Nelson is advocating to extend effective incentives of Senate Bill 5101 through 2020 (currently due to expire in 2014) and to lift the cap of $2000 to $5000 for production incentives.

Jefferson PUD #1
"the commissioners are not likely to ask PSE if it wants to sell its East Jefferson County facilities until after Jan. 1, when PUD commissioner-elect Ken McMillen is sworn into office." PDN November 20.

Best Regards
Bill Wise
Local 2020 Energy Action
385-1271

Vote Yes!

On November 4th voters in Jefferson County will have the opportunity to have their voices heard – to tell the Jefferson County Public Utility District they may move forward and begin exploring the feasibility of bringing lower cost power to Jefferson County.

VOTE YES for Jefferson County Proposition #1
Local Power Authorization
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PORT TOWNSEND LEADER endorsement
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LATEST NEWS UPDATES!
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Seattle Times Endorses YES VOTE for Jefferson County's Prop #1
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/2008308444_edit27puds.html

Open Letter to All Jefferson County Voters (.doc)

Port Ludlow Utilities Commission

Citizens ignite WUTC Email Campaign for "Local First!"

Macquarie's Outlook Changed to `Negative' by Moody's Oct 16 2008
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aIB4iiEEp2aQ&refer=home
http://ptleader.com/main.asp?SectionID=36&SubSectionID=55&ArticleID=22079&TM=4905.652

PSE pushes anti-Prop. 1 spending to $237,510 Oct 15 2008
http://ptleader.com/main.asp?SectionID=36&SubSectionID=55&ArticleID=22079&TM=4905.652

Proposition 1 Q&A Oct 15 2008
http://ptleader.com/main.asp?SectionID=36&SubSectionID=55&ArticleID=22017&TM=5673.48

WPUDA urges state regulators to let communities buy PSE
http://www.wpuda.org/PDF_files/Press_releases/UTC-10-8-08.pdf

"Scary Macquarie" - Wall Street Journal - Australia - Oct 13, 2008
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/business/story/0,28124,24485046-643,00.html

Comments extended on Puget Energy Takeover - Seattle Times - Oct 9, 2008
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008242595_natbizbriefs09.html

Locals are in revolt against Puget Sound Energy
http://www.crosscut.com/energy-utilities/16478/Locals+are+in+revolt+against+Puget+Sound+Energy/

Seattle Time Opposes PSE Acquisition - July 24th 2008
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/2008069361_nopsedealed24.html

Puget Sound Energy lowers its rate increase request
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/369562_pse04.html

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Below are some of the potential advantages of having our own municipal (city) and/or county (PUD) electric utility provider.
  • Local control. Enabling key decisions to be made by elected representatives of the persons most affected — local consumers of electricity.
  • Local jobs. A countywide electric utility would create about 36 new, local, living wage jobs with almost $2 million worth of labor earnings.
  • Better customer service. A local utility with employees whose entire focus is on our service area will be more responsive to our needs.
  • Consumer benefit rather than investor profits. No need to pay dividends to outside private investors whose ownership is only for financial gain.
  • Energy security and independence. A long-term contract with Bonneville Power Administration would lock us in at current rates and give us time to develop local sources of renewable energy, and adopt conservation strategies.
  • Conservation options. Bonneville gives back 5% of the value of energy purchased for investment in conservation, over which we would have local control.
  • Regulatory exemption. As a small utility with less than 25,000 meters, we would be exempt from certain state regulatory requirements. PSE is not.
  • Other savings. Municipal and county utilities have access to preferential “tier one” rates from Bonneville and tax exemptions. PSE does not.
Over time, we will provide more information to allow voters to understand and provide an informed vote in the November 2008 election. We also hope that the Jefferson PUD will fund a feasibility study with which to inform voters with fact-based information.
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