A new agreement would allow new lamps in the Fourth and Washington Avenue parking garage to burn bright without burning the environment.
The City Council approved an agreement Wednesday between the city, the Port of Bremerton, Poulsbo and Bainbridge Island to enter a resource conservation program, paid for largely by federal stimulus money.
The program would help make more efficient smaller Bremerton programs already underway, such as the parking garage lamps and installing energy-efficient windows in the Puget Sound Navy Museum, said Phil Williams, director of Bremerton Public Works and Utilities. It could also help the city realize other savings, such as using natural gas to fuel vehicles in Bremerton.
The program would hire a resource conservation manager to think of ways to lower energy consumption and seek energy efficiency grants for all four members in the agreement. Each participant’s share of the cost and share of the conservation manager’s workload is based on size, with the City of Bremerton getting a 60 percent share. The Port of Bremerton would get 10 percent. Bainbridge Island and Poulsbo would get a 20 and 10 percent share, respectively.
Ideally, the new manager will help save all participants money in their own budgets and in residents’ energy bills.
“Whatever this person costs, they need to find savings well in excess of their cost,” Williams said.
Tim Thompson, Port of Bremerton director of real estate and industrial park development, said the Port would use the program to enhance the energy efficiency of its buildings.
Washington State University is facilitating the program and providing technical support. The Washington state Department of Commerce will pay for part of the program with federal stimulus dollars, and Puget Sound Energy will pitch in with additional money.
The program will be a two-year endeavor with an optional third year. Of the $100,000 estimated yearly budget for the conservation program, Commerce will pay $50,000 the first year and $25,000 the next. Puget Sound Energy will pay $21,000 annually for three years. The rest is split between the participants in the agreement.
The intent is for smaller cities and public agencies to develop efficiency plans, such as Poulsbo and the Port of Bremerton. The City of Bremerton could have implemented its own program, but with this agreement, it’s even cheaper, Williams said.
In all, Washington State University aims to create 10 such resource conservation agreements throughout the state, making it a $750,000 project statewide. One agreement in Pierce County brings together Bonney Lake, Buckley, Sumner and the Sumner School District, said Karen Messmer, energy program coordinator at the university.
The City of Bremerton joins Poulsbo in approving this agreement. The Port of Bremerton and Bainbridge Island are expected to vote on the program next week.
