BPA-$2 Billion Needed For New Power Lines

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$2 Billion Needed For New Power Lines

May 30, 2001 By Bryan Johnson

WESTERN WASHINGTON - The Bonneville Power Administration says the region needs to invest $2 billion in transmission lines.

Steve Hickok tells KOMO 4 News the transmission lines that bring power from generating areas to the Puget Sound region are operating at near capacity.

He says if the region found new sources of generation, we'd need new power lines to get it where it's needed.

Hickok says it will take years to build the new transmission capacity and that in the interim conservation is critical.

Gold Stars

Tacoma Power, meanwhile, published on Wednesday the names of companies leading the way in conservation, in hopes of convincing others to follow suit.

One of those credited with major savings is Bayside Embroidery, which lowered its year-to-year power bills by 48.2 percent.

"You know it's like Dad used to say, 'Turn out the lights when you leave the room,' " says owner Randy Gollinger. "So, we just really watched when the lights are on, where the heat is during the winter. We insulated some things around here, that we should have done years ago."

Selden Furniture was also recognized by Tacoma Power. Its electricity usage is down nearly 25 percent.

President Scott Selden says lowering consumption wasn't that difficult. The firm turned off every other light in its warehouse in Fife and removed the bulbs from display lamps in its retail store.

http://www.komotv.com/news/story.asp?ID=11477

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), May 30, 2001


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