2014 Leg Agenda Unveiled

With the second half of the legislative biennium set to begin just past the holidays, the Chamber’s 2014 Legislative Agenda was unveiled earlier this week.

Chamber members, Government Affairs Committee members and Advocacy Sponsors invited legislators from Pierce County to the Unveiling event, preceding the Chamber’s annual Public Officials Holiday Reception.

Pictured: Sen. Steve Conway, 29th District, reviews the 2014 Legislative Agenda.

The Chamber’s 2014 Legislative Agenda, as a continuation of the 2013-2014 legislative biennium, was refined by the Chamber’s Government Affairs Committee after input from a Chamber members survey.

Remaining at the top of the Chamber’s Legislative Agenda is completion of SR 167.  Although opportunities may realize the adoption of a state-wide transportation package, including funding for completion of 167, before the 2014 short legislative session begins, the Chamber is poised to continue its advocacy for completion of 167 into the new year.

Other notable refinements in the 2014 Legislative Agenda include parity of policies for electric and natural gas fuel in transportation, the JBLM/I-5 Corridor and an East Pierce-SR 162/410 corridor study. 

Another emphasis area, Workforce Development, received refinements, principally with legislative advocacy for transitioning veterans to realize their opportunities in the civilian economy.

The Chamber maintains its advocacy for the creation and retention of private sector jobs and the success of local businesses.  You may review the entire 2014 Legislative Agenda here.

Tacoma Power IRP 2013 Process

Tacoma Power started the Integrated Resource Planning (IRP) process for 2013. IRP is a strategic planning process electric and gas utilities use to estimate short and long-term growth and decide on the best mix of resources to address that growth.

The primary purpose of IRP’s is to “[a]ssess whether there is a need to acquire additional resources to meet projected retail demand”, as well as to “[d]etermine the combination of new resources that are the most cost-effective and impose the least risk” (Metcalf, 2013, p.2). IRP’s also include the plan’s programming, implementation, and evaluation, and must be updated by September 1 of even years according to RCW 19.280.

Tacoma Power serves more than 160,000 customers, stretching beyond Tacoma across Pierce and King Counties, to University Place, Fircrest, portions of Fife, Lakewood, Federal Way, Steilacoom, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, and as far south as Roy. Tacoma Power’s primary resource for electricity generation is hydropower, which made up over 93 percent of its fuel mix in 2011 (Metcalf, 2013, p. 10).

Tacoma Power’s 2013 IRP focuses on three critical areas. First, how much conservation should Tacoma Power pursue in 2014/2015? Next, what approach should Tacoma Power take for complying with Tacoma Power’s 2016 and 2020 I-937 Renewable Portfolio Standard Requirements? And finally, what future energy and capacity portfolio best conforms to the needs of the utility and consumers?

While hydro is a renewable resource, unfortunately it is not considered an “eligible” resource for Washington’s Renewable Portfolio Standard, I-937. Therefore, Tacoma Power must seek alternative, eligible, renewable resources, such as wind, solar, geothermal, incremental hydro, biomass, landfill gas, ocean (wave/tidal), bio diesel, or renewable energy credits (REC’s).

In this year’s first public meeting, Tacoma Power staff informed stakeholders of the IRP process and sought stakeholder input. There will be additional opportunities for public involvement in May, September, and October.

References
Metcalf, T. (2013). 2013 IRP stakeholder presentation 1. Tacoma, WA: Tacoma Power.

Tacoma Updates Utilities Rates

Tacoma utilities users are up for the biannual rate evaluations.  Both the Environmental Services Department (surface water, wastewater, solid waste) and Public Utilities (water, electricity/power) have conducted rate cases involving a review of operations, capital needs and cost of service.

Here is a comparison of Tacoma’s 2013 residential rates for these utilities compared with neighboring cities in the region.  For these comparisons, Tacoma’s combined utilities’ rates are lower than comparable or neighboring cities.  Of course, businesses are typically in different rate classifications than residents, but the residential rate serves as a useful universal classification for comparisons.

For 2013, the system-wide rate increases are:

• Surface Water   6.0%
• Wastewater       4.8%
• Solid Waste      0.0%
• Power               4.2%
• Water                6.0%

You should note that the Solid Waste rates system average increase is 0% because the City will begin a volume-based rate system that will offer customers conservation opportunities.  Commercial customers will again have a 0% rate increase because the City is keeping its commitment to adjust rates to a cost-of-service philosophy, ending a subsidy of residential rates by its commercial customers.

Although both utilities departments have engaged in a public outreach program both to gain customer input into development of the rates and to inform customers of the increases, there are still customer input opportunities.

Schedule for Adoption

• Jan. 29                  City Council Study Session Rate Review Presentation
• Jan. 30                  Public Utility Board Study Session and Public Hearing for Water and Power
• Feb. 5                    City Council First Reading of Ordinances for Surface water, Wastewater & Solid Waste              
• Feb. 12                 City Council Second Reading of Ordinances for Surface water, Wastewater and Solid Waste
• Feb. 13                 Public Utility Board Consideration & Adoption of Water and Power Rates
• Feb. 19                 City Council First Reading of Water and Power Rates
• Feb. 26                 City Council Second Reading of Water and Power Rates
• Mar. 1                   Adoption of Rates for Surface water, Wastewater and Solid Waste
• Apr. 1                    Effective Date of Power and Water Rates

If you wish more information about how these rate increases may apply to your business or wish to share your concern about the proposed increases, please email Gary Brackett or call him at 253-682-1720.

Connecting to a Key Economic Partner

Respecting the economic partnership between Alaska and Tacoma, the Chamber’s President & CEO Tom Pierson attended the 33^rd annual Alaska Resources Conference held Nov. 14-15 in Anchorage.

 

Joining Tom from Tacoma was John Parrott, Pres., Totem Ocean Trailer Express, Inc. for a whirlwind series of conference sessions and meetings with local businesses.  Thanks to the support of Carlile Transportation System, Tom was able to strengthen his relationships with Alaska business leaders.

 

His contacts included Bill Popp, Pres., Anchorage Economic Development Commission, Kara Moriarity, Executive Director, Alaska Oil and Gas Association and Karen Matthias, Alaska representative for the Port of Tacoma.

 

Alaska Governor Sean Parnell (recently hosted in Tacoma by the Chamber’s Alaska Committee) and Anchorage Mayor Dan Sullivan (visited by the Chamber-led Tacoma delegation to the Alaska State Chamber Conference), honored the Resource Development Conference with remarks directed to the economic opportunities in Alaska.

 

Tom recently published comments in his October op-ed piece for the Business Examiner, were read and praised by numerous Alaskans as he visited their state again.

Electric Vehicles Charging Station Grants for Businesses

Electric vehicle charging station grant funds available for Tacoma business owners.

In response to the growing electric vehicle market, Federal stimulus grant funds are available to local business owners to install public customer charging stations. The Puget Sound area is one of a handful of regions that can take advantage of this opportunity.

Businesses have until September 2011 to pursue the available grant funds to help the Puget Sound area plug-in to a new era of transportation innovation and reduce the fossil fuel costs and emissions.

The benefits to becoming a charging station host include:

• Free charging stations
• Up to $2,500 for installation (through EV Project only)
• Free maintenance coverage through December 2012
• Ownership of charging station transfers to site host at the end of the project
• Recoup electricity costs, or even generate revenue by passing on charging fees to your EV customers

Requirements of charging station hosts:

• Allow rapid installation of the charger
• Allow the general public to use the charger
• Provide adequate public signage
• Keep the charger in good operating order
• Cannot sell or move the charger once it is installed
• Allow anonymous data to be provided for analysis

If interested, business owners need to call for a free estimate. To schedule your free assessment and estimate, or for more information, contact: Jim Blaisdell with Chargepoint America Project, ChargeNorthwest at (253) 265-0919 or Dan O’Shea with the EV Project, Ecotality at (206) 920-1477.