I read the article, “Plans announced for new assisted-living center” (May 7) with interest. As we all age, myself certainly included, these facilities will fill an increasingly important role in our lives. I wish them all the best.
But what I wonder is how this project will affect our electric energy requirements here on Bainbridge Island.
Puget Sound Energy is responsibly attempting to move forward with plans to enhance electric service and improve reliability. I support these plans.
But there are some who have been very vocal and visible who are of the opinion that energy conservation alone will not only alleviate the present overload condition but will make any enhancements to the system unnecessary into the foreseeable future.
Considering that each new home that comes on line will substantially offset most of the incremental conservation savings achieved, it is not hard to figure that several new homes combined with the planned assisted living facility will create an electric service capacity crisis.
And by the way, each “green” electric car brought on to the island will consume the same electricity as a single-family home.
How many of these are there here? Keep in mind that if PSE is convinced that a seeming majority of island residents do not want enhanced/reliable electric service, they will indeed cancel their plans. And we will be very much on our own.
Another resource which will be required for the new assisted-living center (and new homes) is water. But that has fallen under the radar screen during all the discussion about electricity. Water is very finite and limited resource.
All of it on Bainbridge Island comes from wells, whether privately or on a community/city basis, drilled into the various aquifers beneath the island.
Has any consideration been given to the impact that any new construction will have on the aquifer system? It doesn’t seem that way.
New construction will be great for city government, as the revenue from that seems to be the only new funding source available. But at what eventual cost? If we exhaust our water supply, home values on the island will be nil.
I support and practice energy conservation, wish that additional wires and equipment were not necessary and would like to see the city back into a strong financial position, but would hope that the impacts positive and negative (depending on your viewpoint) are all considered.
Decisions made and actions taken now will have an impact well into the “foreseeable future.”
Norman T. Marten Jr.
Bainbridge Island
