In Mr. Murray’s Feb. 25 article regarding Newcastle’s moratorium on Energize Eastside, you reported that Puget Sound Energy claimed that “the huge amount of power Downtown Bellevue sucks up is unsustainable” and that “only the 18-mile line meets all the goals of the project.”

A closer look at this shows PSE’s claims to be entirely false. PSE states that they ran thousands of scenarios simulating a peak load demand on a cold winter day. The scenario they ultimately chose to justify Energize Eastside is full of misinformation:

1. They chose a rate of growth in electrical demand that is almost five times what they reported to the federal authorities.

2. They used lower summertime transformer capacities for this winter emergency.

3. They left all six of their local power generation plants idle despite the fact that this is specifically when they are expected to be used.

4. They sent three times the amount of electricity north to Canada in the midst of this crisis. This is something the federal agency would never expect nor approve.

When proper data is used, there is, in fact, no crisis and no shortage until 2058.

You also reported one of the alternatives in Energize Eastside (Alternative 2) as “ramping up conservation efforts.” In fact, Alternative 2 is a blended solution involving 21st century technologies such as smart switches, transformer upgrades and storage technologies along with continued conservation efforts.

It meets and exceeds the Eastside demand for less cost to ratepayers and without destroying 8,000 trees, 327 acres of land, our neighbor’s homes through eminent domain and putting high voltage wires within feet of 50-year-old jet fuel pipelines as they run through an active earthquake fault.

PSE’s response is to attack the credibility of the nationally-recognized consultants who uncovered the truth behind Energize Eastside. Contrary to PSE’s claims, they are intimately aware of the federal requirements and standards. I would expect that Mr. Nedrud and PSE will experience many more “red flag” moments as we citizens continue to unravel their deception.

I encourage concerned citizens and the press to visit CENSE.org to educate themselves on this oversized unnecessary project that will permanently blight our neighborhoods for the purpose of a private equity’s profit.

Richard A. Kaner, MD

Bellevue