Thank you all for
being here today, and a special thanks to Unico Properties for hosting us.
I'm here to talk about conservation: how we've done so far, our next steps, and to thank exceptional business leaders who have responded to these difficult times.
Early this year -- with energy costs soaring, California experiencing blackouts, and the effects of a drought just beginning to register -- we launched our "Conserve Ten Percent" campaign.
You -- our community -- responded.
- We're conserving at a rate of about 6.5 percent below last year's energy use.
- Four out of 10 households have reduced energy use by more than 10 percent -- which translates into having conserved more than 310,000
megawatts of electricity, saving the city $65 million in power purchases.
- 175,000 customers have responded to City Light's offer of free compact fluorescent lights, producing estimated annual savings of 45,500 megawatt-hours.
I want to congratulate City Light customers -- both residential and business -- for their tremendous response.
And where do we go from here? Is conservation still relevant? We've all heard reports lately about price controls, lower prices and rosier supply forecasts. But we're not out of the woods yet. We are still in the grip of a serious drought.
For the first time in more than 20 years, the spring snowmelt will not produce enough water to fill Ross Lake, the city's major hydroelectric storage facility. It's even drier over at City Light's Boundary Dam on the Pend Oreille River.
The latest analysis of the regional energy situation by the Northwest Power Planning Council shows there is a still a 17 percent likelihood of energy shortages in the Northwest this winter.
I don't like those odds. And I believe we can, and must, lower them by continuing our aggressive conservation efforts.
That's why today we are launching Phase Two of our conservation campaign.
Throughout the
summer, print and radio ads will promote energy conservation both at home and work. Because much of our summertime energy use occurs in the workplace,
downtown office buildings will be a major focus of the campaign.
We have partnered with organizers of the downtown
"Out to Lunch" concert series and will distribute energy conservation brochures at each and every concert. We will also promote conservation at
Seafair events this summer.
We will also highlight the availability of rate-assistance for low-income customers and
promote contributions to
Project Share, a contribution fund for emergency energy assistance.
We will be joining the Seattle Police Department to install free compact fluorescent lights at registered "Night Out against Crime" block parties.
I'd like to now thank some very special City Light customers.
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Mr. Wade Hawkins, project manager for the
Bon Marché. The Bon has been working with City Light for several years and is a conservation leader in the retail arena.
Conservation Hero Story
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Mr. Bruce Jarrard, engineering director, and Ms. Alisa Martinez, public relations director, for the
Four Seasons Olympic Hotel. The hotel responded immediately to cut lighting on January 8 and its efforts have continued
through the year.
Conservation Hero Story
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Mr. Martin LePore, facility manager, and Mr. Stan Ruble, property manager, for
Remington Place Retirement Inn. Remington Place is a great example of what smaller businesses can do. They've done a great job of involving both their employees and residents in energy conservation.
Conservation Hero Story
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Mr. Lee Miley, assistant director of plant operations for
Seattle University. From administration to faculty to students, Seattle University has embraced conservation.
Conservation Hero Story
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Mr. Don Wise, senior vice president,
Unico Properties. Unico has not only improved its own buildings but has reached out to other building owners and managers to share ideas about efficient energy use.
Conservation Hero Story
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Ms. Carol Thomas, vice president, for
Wright Runstad & Company and property manager for the Washington Mutual Building. Wright Runstad has involved tenants in voluntary conservation and installed systems that significantly improve the energy efficiency of its buildings.
Conservation Hero Story
Thank you for your outstanding efforts, and thank you all for joining us here today.
