4/19/14, 9:55 PM Energize Eastside project sparks opposition - Bellevue Reporter Page 1 of 5 http://www.bellevuereporter.com/news/255561271.html# Subscribe Green Editions Contact Us Our Mobile Apps Connect with Us 1 0 Tweet Tweet 0 by BRANDON MACZ, Bellevue Reporter Staff Writer Apr 16, 2014 at 3:18PM As Puget Sound Energy continues community engagement for its Energize Eastside project, running 18 miles of transmission lines from Redmond to Renton, a group in the Somerset neighborhood of Bellevue isn't buying the company's claim that it's for the betterment of the people. PSE proposes to run the 18 miles of transmission lines on either of two routes through mostly public right of way (See map) and in areas where older 115 kilovolt lines already exist and replace them with 230 kilovolt lines. Bellevue is currently running on a system that was put in place in the 1960s, said Andy Wappler, PSE vice president of corporate affairs, but that was when there were about 50,000 residents on the Eastside and not the 300,000 today, or the 275 percent growth of central business in Bellevue projected by 2040. Wappler said 2014 will be spent conducting public engagement, which includes a community advisory group. "It's to serve Bellevue and the rest of the community and our customers," said Wappler of Energize Eastside. " So, to have people involved and to know about it is a good thing." Energize Eastside project sparks opposition NEWS 5 Like Like Share Share 0 This map shows two potential routes for Puget Sound Energy's Energize Eastside project, which would run 18 miles of transmission lines from Renton to Redmond. — Image Credit: Puget Sound Energy Read the latest Green Edition Browse the print edition page by page, including stories and ads. Apr 18 edition online now. Browse the archives. 51 ° Mostly cloudy JOBS AUTOS HOMES RENTALS CLASSIFIEDS COUPONS LOCAL SAVINGS GREEN EDITIONS LEGAL NOTICES CONTESTS NEWS CALENDAR BLOGS SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS LIFESTYLES COMMUNITY OPINION ABOUT US
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4/19/14, 9:55 PMEnergize Eastside project sparks opposition - Bellevue Reporter
Page 1 of 5http://www.bellevuereporter.com/news/255561271.html#
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by BRANDON MACZ, Bellevue Reporter Staff Writer Apr 16, 2014 at 3:18PM
As Puget Sound Energy continues community
engagement for its Energize Eastside project,
running 18 miles of transmission lines from
Redmond to Renton, a group in the Somerset
neighborhood of Bellevue isn't buying the
company's claim that it's for the betterment of
the people.
PSE proposes to run the 18 miles of
transmission lines on either of two routes
through mostly public right of way (See map)
and in areas where older 115 kilovolt lines
already exist and replace them with 230
kilovolt lines.
Bellevue is currently running on a system that
was put in place in the 1960s, said Andy
Wappler, PSE vice president of corporate
affairs, but that was when there were about
50,000 residents on the Eastside and not the
300,000 today, or the 275 percent growth of
central business in Bellevue projected by 2040.
Wappler said 2014 will be spent conducting
public engagement, which includes a community advisory group.
"It's to serve Bellevue and the rest of the community and our customers," said Wappler of Energize
Eastside. " So, to have people involved and to know about it is a good thing."
Energize Eastside project sparks oppositionNEWS
5LikeLike ShareShare 0
This map shows two potential routes for Puget SoundEnergy's Energize Eastside project, which would run 18miles of transmission lines from Renton to Redmond.
— Image Credit: Puget Sound Energy
Read the latestGreen Edition
Browse the print editionpage by page, includingstories and ads.
Apr 18 edition online now.Browse the archives.
51°Mostlycloudy
JOBS AUTOS HOMES RENTALS CLASSIFIEDS COUPONS LOCAL SAVINGS GREEN EDITIONS LEGAL NOTICES CONTESTS
NEWS CALENDAR BLOGS SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS LIFESTYLES COMMUNITY OPINION ABOUT US
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Heidi Unick Dean · Top Commenter · Bellevue, WashingtonNo one who would be affected in my neighborhood (M route follows the existing Olympic pipelineand cuts through some residents' backyards) seems to care about the impact of this upgrade soI'm not fighting it for Newport Hills residents. However, I fully support all the neighborhoods andcities like Somerset, Lake Lanes, Newcastle, etc., that aren't willing to buy what PSE is peddlingjust because PSE says it's so. It's not right that PSE wants view neighborhoods like Somerset topay extra for undergrounding to preserve their property values. Those values are largely basedupon views impacted by the monster poles and it's not as if PSE is offering any kind ofcompensation for the decreased property values. Yes, there are existing transmission lines atSomerset's J route site but the new poles/lines will affect a whole new tier of residents whopreviously enjoyed unobstructed views. Aren't we all- including the Canadian customers-benefitting from the increased capacity of the proposed new lines? I don't think the entire routeneeds to be underground but there are certainly some areas where it makes sense. Keep holdingPSE's feet to the fire, neighbors!Reply · Like · Yesterday at 2:02pm