Island Power is hosting a public forum from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 9 at the island’s Grange Hall to discuss the idea of an island-owned electric utility.

“It is time for the island to have a community discussion about how to reduce our carbon footprint,” said Jane Lindley the advocacy group’s co-chair. “And, public power may just be the answer.”

According to Island Power Co-chair Steve Johnson, the forum will take an encompassing look at other public-owned power companies.

“This meeting will explore how Bainbridge can join Washington state’s 60 other consumer-owned nonprofit electric utilities,” he said. “These locally-controlled power providers serve the majority of the states citizens.”

The nearest nonprofit electric utility is Seattle City Light, but smaller communities such as Port Angeles and Centralia also have consumer owned power providers.

The newest community owned system is Jefferson Public Utility District in Port Townsend, which took over operations from PSE two years ago.

“It would be great if Bainbridge could join these other locally controlled nonprofit utilities and be a model for sustainability,” Lindley said.

Speakers on May 9 will include Johnson, who is a retired utility executive; Scott Wilson from the Bonneville Power Administration; and other utility leaders and experts.

For more information, visit www.island-power.org.