Grade: B-

I certainly think [councils] should be involved. I actually sat in on some of the council meetings where PSE has showed the Energize Eastside project and where they are with things, but it should be a broader scope than just complying with land use codes, because that’s only one aspect of it. So certainly there should be more involvement regarding the overall impact on the city. Of course, the neighborhoods and the citizens, that’s what the city government is all about, governing over citizens for their benefit.

Now as far as specific ideas about energy planning, I will be the first to say, I’m not an energy planner or anything like that. In these interviews, I flat out say, I don’t know what I don’t know, and I’ll learn as I go along, certainly. But what I do like to do is really hear about both concerns of any argument. I’ve seen a lot of the plans with Energize Eastside and the reasoning why. One of the things I certainly don’t want to experience is potential rolling blackouts and things like that. I have a friend down in LA who’s experienced that over the years, here and there, and they said it’s no fun. But what I think is important as I sit in and observe, or even in the City Council meetings, is that all the right questions be asked. I’ll tell you right now I’m glad to even have this opportunity to talk with the group here because I only know what I’ve seen from that side. I know there’s opposition. I’ll be honest. I don’t know what the opposition stance is. So I’m hoping you’ll be able to let me know, because I think it’s important to be able to weigh both sides. Now, after this interview, you might not like me, because I might say, “That’s not a good idea.” But I haven’t heard the opposing idea.

Back to the second question there. I don’t know if I have specific ideas – I may be interpreting that question incorrectly – but I think it’s important to see where we can really utilize renewable energy. Not that Renton has room for wind farms or whatever. It’s so funny that a PSE guy just came by the house yesterday and says, “Do you want to participate in the program where we get energy from solar panels someplace and give it to you?” Or something like that. I found out I was already doing it! So I said, “No, no, I’m doing it!”  Apparently at some point, it was a good idea. I honestly think it’s important in the energy plan, I would like to bring more of the viable aspects of wind and solar as it relates to getting the energy with as little disruption as possible. I mean, Renton is growing, so there’s going to be some sort of disruption, and honestly, everybody is probably not going to be happy. But trying to lessen the number of people that aren’t going to be happy, that’s the best I can offer.

(see full question)

Utilities like Seattle City Light, Tacoma Power, and Snohomish County PUD are all forecasting flat or declining consumption of electricity for at least the next decade. These forecasts and Washington’s mandate to transition to a cleaner energy grid have implications for power planning. How might they influence your input to policies implemented at the city level?

Grade: C+

I find that interesting that they forecast flat or declining use when Seattle and the Seattle area is one of the fastest growing areas. In Renton – I can’t remember where I saw this – but from the rate of growth, it may, pound-for-pound, surpass that. So I flat out do not necessarily believe that, but I haven’t seen the data. I find that hard to believe that there’s going to be a lower consumption of electricity when there’s going to be more people here. So somebody’s got to help me with that, I’m not a civil engineer or whatever.

I don’t know if they would influence [my policy] from the standpoint of believing that we go forward as if that is going to be the case. I would have to see some more data. But as far as the mandate to transition to a cleaner energy grid, which I just mentioned, but I don’t know if I’m interpreting this correctly.

The data always influence my input, but at the same time, what also influences my input is what I see in front of my face and what we’re experiencing. Where’s PSE’s forecast about this? Seattle City Light, Tacoma Power, Snohomish – okay, that makes me wonder, where is PSE? I’m not concerned with [other utilities], I’m concerned with ours. And that’s what’s going to input what kind of policies I would implement at the city level.

Grade: A-

I see a construction project was proposed, but certainly not necessarily passed, and unless somebody can show me… I’m one of those Renton citizens who was unaware. You have to show me some really good, strong data studies, something to alleviate any kind of concern about what this could cause. Why this construction project? I don’t even know what the construction actually is at this point in time.

[We later clarified with the candidate that our concern was about Energize Eastside construction near the Olympic Pipeline.]

As Renton grows, we may run into this sort of thing, because with growth and building and construction, obviously, you’re going to have certain things you’re going to have to be aware of. But honestly, given the magnitude of what that involves, I’d want to talk to the fire authority about that as well. I have a meeting with them next week. I wouldn’t be in favor, quite frankly, of this sort of thing. I mean, it’s a risk-reward type of situation, and growth and building and that sort of thing is important, but not to the detriment, or even the potential detriment, of even one life ending. That sounds like a mess. Actually, it sounds like long-term effects that really don’t justify what they are trying to do there. There’s got to be some other place for this particular project. I don’t know what it is. So having said that, I would not be in favor of that.

Grade: B-

I have to be honest. I have to claim a level of ignorance as far as not necessarily knowing the answer. What is my assessment of the advantages and disadvantages of a private utility? I mean, I’ve been with PSE in the Highlands for 22 years. Haven’t necessarily had an issue. I’ve never been with Seattle City Light. I don’t know which one is more expensive, which one it isn’t. I would imagine public utilities have a little bit more accountability, as all public companies do. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. Actually, it’s not a bad thing at all!

So, of course that brings more responsibility and more oversight, and that would be a good thing. At the same time, sometimes it brings more bureaucracy, and that sort of thing. I guess I am talking about the advantages and disadvantages after all.

[Regarding] disadvantages of a private utility, given the fact it’s a business, if they’re owned by foreign investors, their rightful duty is to the stockholders and the overall revenues of the company and not necessarily the community. They’ll say they are, but I’m from the corporate world. I know how that thing works. I used to be in pharmaceuticals and that sort of thing.

So, I guess I gave you my assessment advantages and disadvantages. So would I support it? At this point in time, I don’t know if I can say yes or no, but I certainly support entertaining it. I certainly support hearing everything about it. I don’t think it’s necessarily a bad thing. I can’t imagine anybody would say no unless they were a stockholder. Then I could imagine that! But I’ll have to go on record as saying that I would support hearing and considering, strongly considering, having it as something for the Renton citizens to vote on, and consider, and possibly move over.