Have you ever wondered what your life would be like if the power in your neighborhood went out … permanently?
What if you had no access to fuel for a generator? How would you heat your water? How would you cook? How would you see indoors at night? Without electricity, how livable would your house be? Or what would you do if gasoline hit $8 to $9 a gallon nationally … and stayed there? How might that affect your daily commute, or the price of a bag of groceries?
For the last 25 years, cheap, readily available energy has been the rule in the United States, creating a sense of complacency about issues of supply and demand. But what if a major regional disaster – such as an earthquake, or terrorist attack – destroyed a significant part of Washington’s electrical transmission grid? Or what if a decline in global oil supply collided with increased demand from rapidly industrializing countries like China, leading to price shocks and gas shortages in the U.S? In scenarios like these, a failure to plan for energy independence – regionally and locally – could have serious long-term consequences for our economy and quality of life.
If you think it can’t happen here, talk to someone who lived in post-Katrina New Orleans, and find out how long it took to restore reliable power after the hurricane Or interview someone old enough to remember the oil crisis of 1973, and the fuel rationing that occurred. You might change your mind. Of course, just because these types of scenarios can happen doesn’t mean they will … but magnitude 7 earthquakes are anticipated here every 100 years or so (the last one was in 1949) and even the global energy policy group most skeptical of peak oil scenarios – Cambridge Energy Research Associates – admits that global oil supply is destined to plateau within the next twenty years. That means the time is now for planning, and implementing, new energy strategies for the U.S. And here’s the good news: some of Kitsap County’s own are leading the way in developing ideas about how to make Kitsap, Washington state, and the U.S. more sustainable and energy independent. Here’s a sampling of what our local thought leaders are doing on the energy and resource conservation fronts.
U.S. Representative Jay Inslee’s New Apollo Energy Project
The New Apollo Energy Project combines tax incentives, federal research and development, and federal purchasing power to help position the U.S. as a leader in the clean-energy industry.
This project will provide investment tax credits for: retooling domestic automotive and aerospace plants for the manufacturing of fuel-efficient and alternative-fueled vehicles and commercial airplanes; capital investments in domestic plants that manufacture qualifying renewable energy-related or energy-efficient products such as alternative/high-efficiency vehicles, appliances, and solar/wind energy components and systems; and construction of new electricity transmission lines to reach renewable-rich areas.
It will also provide consumer tax credits for clean-energy products, low-interest loans and grants to small businesses that wish to adopt higher-risk technologies, and launch a clean-energy technology export program. Benefits of the project include lowered utility costs, improved environmental and public health, reduced dependence on foreign oil, and the creation of 3 million ‘green collar’ jobs.
For more information, visit www.jayinslee.com/index.php?page=display&id=31&sub=1.
The Kitsap SEED (Sustainable Energy & Economic Development) project
SEED brings the concept of the New Apollo Project to the local level. An initiative of the Port of Bremerton, the Kitsap SEED project vision is to create a center for leadership in the new energy economy through the creation of a sustainable business park and regional center for clean-technology business development. SEED’s key components include the Northwest Clean Technology Commercialization Center, a resource center, research and development facilities, and showcase opportunities, including the Sustainable Practices Collaborative. For more information, visit www.kitsapseed.org/overview.php.
Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe energy initiatives
Doug Quade, Chief Executive Officer of the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe, said the tribe is considering both renewable and alternative energy strategies as part of a larger economic development program.
One idea being explored is the feasibility of using pyrolizing technology to recycle waste tires into petroleum distillates.
“The process needs to be significantly refined,” said Quade, “and this is an engineering issue, but the idea would be to take the equipment right to the tire dumps: there is a St. Regis Mohawk member who has a truck-mounted pyrolizer unit that can dispose of 14,000 tons of tires in a day. One ton of tires equal a barrel of distillates, and the process produces a high grade of carbon.
“We’re far from details at this point, but it’s part of the vision. Right now we don’t have the people to devote to it, and it’s a reach in terms of material and supply, but we could pilot it here … and make use of it.”
Other alternative-energy possibilities under consideration include using biomass or tidal flows to generate electricity. One benefit of these methods is that the energy is created locally: in the event of an extended power outage, either could play a part in a local emergency energy plan.
“Right now, there is no plan,” Quade said, “so this could be a significant benefit, at least for emergency care. Other than localized power production there is no secondary source: our power is out until someone puts it back on.”
Regardless of the direction they go in the future, the tribe has a desire to keep things pristine, Quade noted.
“There is great potential, a lot needs to be done, but prices aren’t high enough yet … but when things get high enough there will be more money offered to develop some of these alternatives.”
For more information about the tribe’s economic and energy development initiatives, visit www.pgst.nsn.us/index.php.
Kitsap County Commissioners’ Energy Efficiency Citizens’ Committee
Kitsap County Commissioners have agreed to sponsor an Energy Efficiency Citizens’ Committee, said Commissioner Steve Bauer.
“We are trying to find folks who are aware and interested in the subject to help us conduct a significant review of city operations, specifically focused on energy use. Puget Sound Energy has a resource conservation manager program and we think we’d like to find or train someone to help conduct energy audits,” Bauer said. “The idea is to bring someone with this background on board as staff. We would focus initially on what has the shortest payback – and then broaden our perspective to look at what has more long term impact.”
Commissioners are currently recruiting members for this committee: if interested, contact Jan Koske, the county’s volunteer coordinator, at (360) 337-4650 or e-mail her at jkoske@co.kitsap.wa.us.
A second idea under development by Commissioners involves bringing all the public agencies together – the City of Bremerton, Kitsap County, the Public Utilities District, public schools and Kitsap Transit – and exploring what can be done to manage collective resources more effectively.
“For example, right now, Kitsap Transit is talking about hybrid buses,” said Bauer, “but at the end of the day, it’s not clear who else benefits. We’re making decisions independently. If we as a group step back and take a look at the larger picture, if we asked as a group, ‘what are we doing?’ we have the potential for a much bigger impact. “Doing this could also be a potential driver for demand for SEED. If we develop this group, we might also bring Jay Inslee and Norm Dicks into the conversation, with their interests, and be able to locate funds to do things together that we can’t do individually. I think we have the potential to be a sort of national test bed for alternative energy development: if we determine a need, we can meet it. Where we are now is figuring out the timing of a bigger conversation.”
For more information about this initiative, contact Commissioner Bauer at sbauer@co.kitsap.wa.us.
SIDEBAR
What’s all this sustainability business about?
Come to Port Gamble Aug.2-3 and find out!
The first annual Great Peninsula Future Festival (GPFF), Aug. 2-3 in Port Gamble, will feature world-class entertainment, hand-made crafts, food, interactive displays and educational booths organized around the theme of sustainable living.
According to Kitsap County Commissioner Steve Bauer, who led the formation of the GPFF Planning Council, “the intent is to expose people to the idea of sustainability, everything from supporting the SEED project to buying local, to creating green jobs. Some of the areas people will be able to learn about are energy conservation and generation, buying local and sustainable agriculture, green building and low impact development, and green products for inside and outside the home. We’re trying to have actual displays so we’re not just talking at people: we want them to see how things work.”
Between 5,000 and 8,000 people are expected to attend. Use of the Port Gamble site has been donated by Olympic Property Group. The GPFF Planning Council is a non-profit charitable and educational group formed by Bauer and representatives from a dozen non-profit organizations, including Stillwaters Environmental Education Center, Kitsap County WSU Extension, the Kitsap SEED project, Kitsap Audubon Society, Poulsbo Farmers’ Market, West Sound Conservation Council, Kitsap Conservation Voters, Washington State Farmers’ Market Association, Kitsap Community and Agricultural Alliance, Kitsap Citizens for Responsible Planning, New Old Time Chautauqua, and the Oregon County Fair.
Sandra Bauer, chairwoman of the planning council and Steve Bauer’s sister, is one of the organizers of the hugely popular Oregon Country Fair held each year near Eugene, Ore.
“Our goal is to educate the public about sustainability in innovative, interactive, and interesting ways,” she said. “The festival will be a well-rounded event with great local food, juried crafts, entertainment, children’s interactive play and educational area, and educationally based interactive exhibits based on a central theme of sustainability. We will address the urgent issues of our times in a festive atmosphere to attract and engage families, as well as the larger community.”
Bauer predicts that the annual event will grow into a major regional attraction, bringing attendees and sponsors from all over the state.
The GPFF Council is seeking business, corporate and organizational sponsors at several levels of support. The council is also accepting applications from non-profit organizations, as well as food vendors and companies whose products tie into the theme of sustainability.
For more information about the Future Festival, including how to become a sponsor, exhibitor, or supporter, visit www.greatpeninsulafuturefestival.org or e-mail Sandra at Sanbauer@aol.com.
