September 21, 2017
More than 70 people converged on the Tacoma headquarters of Puget Sound Energy today at noon to send a loud and clear message: we demand that the Tacoma LNG facility be scrapped, the dirty Colstrip coal power plant be shut down, and that PSE transition to 100% renewable energy now! Some 12 PSE locations throughout Washington State were targets for action today in a regional action coordinated by 350 Seattle.
Tacoma Represents
Here in Tacoma, participating organizations included the Puyallup Water Warriors, Protectors of the Salish Sea, 350 Seattle, 350 Tacoma and Redefine Tacoma, among others. Water Warrior Dakota Case attempted to hand-deliver a letter for Puget Sound Energy CEO Kimberly Harris but was blocked at the front doors by hired law enforcement. A PSE representative did come outside to take the letter. The letter read, in part:
“We urge you to cancel the Tacoma LNG facility, commit to 100% renewable energy and energy efficiency replacement for Colstrip, and broadly reject ‘natural’ gas as a false bridge in transition to a clean energy future. PSE has the opportunity to lead in combating climate change and creating a healthier world. Will you be on the right side of history?”
Steve Way of 350 Tacoma’s “Keep it in the Ground” work group said “We support the Water Warriors in calling on Puget Sound Energy to stop construction of the LNG fracked gas facility in the Port of Tacoma. It is not safe, it is not clean, and it is not local. Fracked gas should stay down under!”
No New Gas Infrastructure
Puget Sound Energy, owned by a for-profit Australian Corporation, wants to expand fracked “natural” gas infrastructure in WA state, thereby increasing our dependence on this dangerous methane-based fossil fuel for decades to come. Research done by the Union of Concerned Scientists shows that there would be virtually no reduction in greenhouse gas emissions even if the U.S. electricity grid transitioned to primarily “natural” gas. The group also sites fugitive methane as a hazard of a major shift from coal to gas-fired power plants, and it estimates that 1 to 9 percent of all natural gas produced escapes into the atmosphere. That leaked methane is equivalent to the global warming emissions from 35–314 typical-sized coal power plants, according to the group.
What You Can Do
If you didn’t get a chance to attend a demonstration today but still want to help, please write a letter to PSE CEO Kimberly Harris at:
Kimberly Harris
Puget Sound Energy
10885 NE 4th St,
Bellevue, WA 98004
Alternatively you could call PSE customer service: 1-888-225-5773.
Thanks to all of those who showed up today and took a stand against PSE’s dirty energy practices and for a green energy future!
You can read the full letter submitted to PSE here.
