PSE’s new transmission lines project will not address recent electricity outages on the island.

PSE has stated that its proposed construction of transmission lines and a new substation on Bainbridge Island would address reliability and capacity issues on Bainbridge. What does that mean exactly?

PSE proposes to build about four miles of transmission lines that will connect substations with two sources of transmission lines. It’s great from an engineering point of view that such a transmission loop would give redundancy so if one transmission line goes out, there’s another line providing power to the substation to prevent downtime.

Many residents are concerned with health and safety risks associated with the 24/7 EMF and electrosmog exposure to residents in proximity to any new transmission lines and substation. If PSE’s new construction will make electricity outages less than recent history, then it may be worth the risk, you may think. Think again.

Heather Brinkey, PSE project manager for the proposed project, informed Robert Gex, island resident and RAiSE member, that the last transmission outage on Bainbridge was in June 2007.

So, all the electricity outages we have experienced since then were due to inclement weather, i.e., wind, ice, snow and downed trees falling on distribution lines. So what would building a $10 million transmission lines and substation do for our current electricity unreliability with downed distribution lines? Nothing.

Vegetation management or trimming trees more often than PSE’s routine one visit per six years would be a good start. Please learn more about the issue of electric reliability, please contact bi.raise@gmail.com

Kay Johnson

RAiSE Reliable and Safe Electricity