What: Community Energy Discussion with PSE CEO Kimberly Harris

When:  Sunday, September 18, 7-8:30 p.m.

Where: IslandWood Great Hall, 4450 Blakely Avenue Northeast, Bainbridge Island

Description:  PSE President & CEO Kimberly Harris will address Bainbridge Island's energy-related concerns and PSE's resource alternatives.  Q&A with Ms. Harris, representatives of local energy, business and environmental groups and public follows the talk.    

Sponsors:

• Positive Energy / Sustainable Bainbridge
• Reliable And Safe Energy (RAiSE)
• Sierra Club
• Bainbridge Graduate Institute
• Bainbridge Island Chamber of Commerce
• City of Bainbridge Island
• Puget Sound Energy

Details:

We believe it is an opportune time for our Island to host PSE's new CEO, whom we hope will share her perspective on the following issues:

• The Island's energy-related sustainability concerns;  Specifically, Positive Energy has set a goal for an annual net zero carbon footprint for Bainbridge Island by 2030.  How will changes in PSE’s energy mix help us achieve this goal?  How will PSE address the goals established by the Washington State Climate Challenge (Executive Order 07-02)?

• PSE's recently announced Integrated Resource Plan, emphasizes energy efficiency; Ms. Harris has stated that PSE's "first choice" for managing peak demand is energy efficiency.  How will PSE support greater energy efficiency efforts within and beyond Kitsap County?

• Community concerns about PSE's plans for added infrastructure on the Island, including building a fourth substation and additional transmission lines.  How can community concerns be reliably integrated into PSE infrastructure projects?

We note that as PSE's former chief of wind power facilities, Ms. Harris has first-hand experience with renewable energy.    Also, she has indicated her first choice for demand reduction is through energy conservation,  in harmony with the approach the PSE, the City of Bainbridge Island and Positive Energy are taking in the RePower Bainbridge program, specifically, achieving energy reduction objectives  through an Island-wide energy efficiency audit/retrofit program.  Her leadership in these areas will be of great interest to Bainbridge and greater Kitsap County citizens.  Future leaders in sustainable business will be particularly interested in Ms. Harris’ approach to management  in a time of growing awareness about the role of energy production in global climate change.