Mukilteo-based battery manufacturer UniEnergy Technologies recently announced its role in a project to build the “world’s largest battery” in China. This huge battery will help meet peak electricity demand during extreme weather events. Like a hundred other batteries already at work in the U.S., this project will reduce carbon emissions by enabling clean sources of electricity like solar and wind.

While we applaud the Chinese people for choosing a smart, green plan to meet their energy needs, we are deeply concerned about our local energy plan. Puget Sound Energy is exploiting weaknesses in our regulations to avoid serious, independent consideration of better solutions to power Eastside growth.

PSE’s vastly over-sized transmission line proposal does nothing to reduce carbon emissions. An alternative plan that the Coalition of Eastside Neighborhoods for Sensible Energy (CENSE) advocated, empowers customers to reduce their carbon footprint and electricity bills. PSE’s plan would destroy thousands of trees and increase the risk of devastating pipeline fires. It’s a plan loved only by PSE’s Australian and Canadian owners, who would collect over $1 billion in government-guaranteed returns by building this project.

PSE has dismissed batteries in the past, claiming the Eastside would need “the biggest battery in the world.” However, CENSE has shown how a battery 10 times smaller than the Chinese battery could be used in concert with other smart solutions to power our local needs. These solutions are scalable and provide better reliability at a lower cost. Unfortunately, CENSE’s plan will not be seriously evaluated in the Environmental Impact Study for PSE’s project.

We are rushing headlong toward a tragic mistake on the Eastside. As leaders in technology and environmental awareness, we can do better for our planet and future generations.

Don Marsh

CENSE.org president