HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetter re: support CDS Requests for Emily Randall - 032425 7,---c6N os�oBoard of County Commissioners
e, 1820 Jefferson Street
tel
0 Lz PO Box 1220
Port Townsend, WA 98368
O Heather Dudley-Nollette,District 1 Heidi Eisenhour,District 2 Greg Brotherton,District 3
SHI NG'S
The Honorable Emily Randall March 24, 2025
1531 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C., 20515
Re: Support for Mason County PUD No. l's CPF Request for FY26
Dear Congresswoman Randall,
The Board of Commissioners for Jefferson County, Washington would like to express our support for
Mason County PUD No. l's appropriations request to fund their Jorstad Substation Grid Resiliency Project
in Lilliwaup, Washington. The PUD received $3 million in grant funding for the first phase of the project,
which includes the design and engineering of this middle-mile substation, but they need assistance with
the construction of the station and building the exit feeders,which will take about$6 million.
This Grid Resiliency Project is important for Jefferson County residents in Brinnon because this area
experiences frequent and long-lasting power outages due to the terrain of U.S. Highway 101 and the
Olympic National Forest that winds along the shoreline of Hood Canal.These areas are vulnerable to
natural hazards like landslides, wind and snow events, and most commonly, fallen trees from the
rainforest canopy.
Currently there is a 35-mile stretch of power lines that run along Hwy 101 from Hoodsport to Mt. Walker
in Brinnon. When one section goes out of power, the entire stretch goes out. During two large storm
events in 2022, these customers were out of power for over three days the first time and over two days
the second time because there is no redundant power supply. With a middle mile substation, most of
these customers could have been back in service in less than 24 hours.
Additionally, the PUD's Hoodsport Substation in Mason County and the Duckabush Substation in Jefferson
County are old (1960's) and both must be taken completely offline for the PUD to perform their
maintenance or to accommodate Bonneville Power Administration's maintenance activities. This middle
mile substation would improve the resilience of the local power grid and enable the PUD to keep most
customers in power under most circumstances thanks to a redundant power feed.
We hope you will agree and select Mason PUD 1's Jorstad Substation Grid Resiliency Project to move
forward for appropriations.They have been a fantastic public partner for Jefferson County and have a
proven track record of getting projects done.
Sincerely,
JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
ammik
2A4j-k
Heat udley-Nollette Hei i Eisenhour` Greg Bro herton
District 1 District 2 District 3
Phone (360) 385-9100 jeffbocc@co.jefferson.wa.us
JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
REGULAR AGENDA REQUEST
TO: Board of County Commissioners
FROM: Greg Brotherton, County Commissioner
DATE: March 24, 2025
SUBJECT: WORKSHOP re: Letters of Support CDS requests
STATEMENT OF ISSUE:
The BoCC has received several requests to send letters of support for Congressional Directed
Spending (CDS) requests from Mason PUD #1 and the Hoh Tribe.
ANALYSIS:
Discuss the requests in the context of our other requests and support and consider any re-drafts
and whether to sign and support each.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None.
RECOMMENDATION:
Conduct the workshop and possibly sign and send requested letters.Mark McC.41 y, County Administr D e