News You Might Not Want to Know



Hats off to Laura Onstot at the Seattle Weekly for spotting some bad news that hasn't really emerged yet from City Hall.

Past issues of Seattle Industry highlighted the growing abundance of natural gas thanks to new drilling techniques. This is a tremendously positive development for the economy and the environment because gas is so much cleaner than coal for electrical generation and the US possesses huge gas reserves (as does Canada). The New York Times (link) recently published a good story about the gas boom.

But, the great news about natural gas comes with a bad twist for Seattle City Light customers, as Onstot reported in the Weekly. Seattle City Light makes vast sums of money selling surplus hydro power. This revenue helps hold down local electricity rates.

But, the surplus power sums aren't nearly as vast as they once were because the availability of natural gas is depressing electricity prices throughout the country.

Result? You probably already guessed.

City Light proposes to make up for the declining revenue through a rate increase of nearly nine percent in 2010, followed by another 10 percent or so over 2011 and 2012. But the City Light proposal is based in part on a City Light staff assumption that gas prices will rebound next year. But, if gas prices remain low, as most expect, the proposed rate increases could grow even higher and the gas issue could impact City Light revenues and rates for years to come.

This issue is just beginning to make its way through the City Council. The council sets electric rates.

The rate proposal will be discussed in greater detail at the October 27 meeting of the Executive Committee for the Manufacturing Industrial Council of Seattle. The discussion will begin at 4:30 pm and is open to the public. RSVP to 206-762-2470. The meeting will be held in Georgetown at 5509 1st Avenue South.

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Green Greener Greenest
Digging beneath the surface of green…and why it matters to the construction industry.


What does it really mean to be green?
What's the difference between "greenwashing" and true sustainability?
To help you explore and answer these questions, the Construction Center of Excellence (CCE) is proud to present the FREE 6-part Green Lecture Series 2009.

The first lecture in the series, "Building Science – Knowing what you don't know: the critical link between building science and green building" will take place at 7:00pm on Tuesday, October 20th on the South Seattle Community College Georgetown Campus at 6737 Corson Avenue South, Seattle, 98108. Space is limited for October 20, so please RSVP now to reserve your spot for this free lecture!!

To register, visit the CCE website at www.rtc.edu/CCE/Events . Scroll by date to find the lecture you want to attend and click on the registration link. For more information or to register by phone/email, contact Shana Peschek at speschek@rtc.edu or 425-235-2352 x2217.

Crime on the Increase in SODO


Last week we had a rash of serious criminal activity right here in SODO.
1. Assault/theft in Starbucks parking lot
2. Stolen car in Bank of America lot
3. Strong armed robbery near Safeco Field
4. Equipment stolen at Cobalt - during the day by intruder.

The short message is simply be alert. If you see anything out of the ordinary, witness a crime, CALL 911. Don't get involved - we don't need any dead or maimed warriors.

Next Alaskan Viaduct Inspection Closure Scheduled for Oct. 24-25
Twice a year, crews close the viaduct for a weekend to inspect the structure and complete maintenance work.

Both decks of the Alaskan Way Viaduct will be closed between Spokane Street in the south through the Battery Street Tunnel in the north. The closure is scheduled from: 6:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 24 and
6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 25.

In recent years members of the public have been invited to join us during these closures for a tour of the structure. Unfortunately, a public tour will not be possible during the October inspection, due to limited daylight hours to complete the necessary maintenance and the decision to reopen the viaduct earlier than normal to accommodate traffic for the Oct. 24 Sounders game.

Most Of The Work Is At Night - But Still A Lot of It!

• I-405 and SR 167 - Expect long delays on southbound I-405 and northbound SR 167 in Renton this weekend. See: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/i405/I5toSR169
  
• I -90: Snoqualmie Pass Lane Closures - Long term closures from Easton to Bullfrog. See http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I90/LkEastonToBullfrogWB/
  
• I-5: S. 272nd Street to Southcenter Parkway - Nightly Lane Closures
  
• I-5: Boeing Access to I-90 sign bridges - Nightly Lane Closures
  
• I-5: Boeing Access Road to King and Snohomish county line pavement repair
  
• I-90: Flammable cargo restriction - WSDOT will restrict flammable cargo in both directions of I-90 from the Mount Baker Tunnel through the Mercer Island Lid through mid-October.
  
• I-90: I-5 to 12th Avenue S. Seismic Retrofit - Nightly Lane and Ramp Closures
  
• I-90 /SR 520 : Lake Washington Active traffic management - sign bridges - Nightly Lane Closures - May also have closures on SR 520.
  
• I-405 - Construction Updates - See http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I405/conupdates.htm#renton%20stage%202 for closure information
  
• SR 900: SE 78th Street Vicinity to Newport Way Widening Project - Alternating one-way traffic. See http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR900/SE78th_Issaquah/ .
  
• I-5: 52nd Avenue to State Route 526 Paving - Nightly Lane Closures
  
• SR-16: Sprague Avenue on-ramp to westbound SR 16 is closed
  
• I-5: Port of Tacoma Road to King County Line – Add HOV Lanes - Nightly Closures - http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/PiercecountyHOV/I5_PortTacomatoKing/