Committee advances 20‑year Green Direct electricity deal with Puget Sound Energy

The King County Council’s Transportation, Economy and Environment Committee on Jan. 21 voted to advance an ordinance that would authorize the county executive to extend King County’s Green Direct energy agreement with Puget Sound Energy from a 10‑year to a 20‑year term.

Jenny Giambattista, council staff, summarized the ordinance and an accompanying striking and title amendment. Giambattista said the Puget Sound Energy Green Direct program, approved by the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission in 2016, lets large customers purchase renewable wind and solar energy under 10‑, 15‑, or 20‑year contract terms; the longer the term, the lower the price. The current 10‑year agreement authorized by Ordinance 18472 is scheduled to expire in 2030; the proposed ordinance would shift the county to a 20‑year option with a contract period beginning in 2025 and ending in 2040 (the staff report notes a clerk correction to reflect the 2025 start date).

Executive staff described the extension as both a continuation of an established partnership and a cost‑saving move. Terrence Sullivan of the Executive Climate Office and David Brewstis of DNRP said the county would continue to receive 100% renewable electricity under the Green Direct arrangement and that the 20‑year option is less expensive over the near term. Council staff’s fiscal note projects savings of about $113,000 in 2025–26, roughly $110,000 in 2027–28, and approximately $350,000 in savings through 2030 when compared with remaining on a 10‑year option. The proposed contract would include an annual fixed rate increase of 2% and a termination clause that would require King County, if it terminates the agreement early, to pay the net cost of remaining renewable energy delivered for the remainder of the contract term.

Julian Lowe, Puget Sound Energy’s local government affairs manager, attended and urged approval. Committee members lauded the partnership and the county’s role as an anchor customer that helped make the renewable project viable.

The committee adopted a striking amendment and a title amendment on voice votes, then approved the underlying ordinance as amended on a roll call. The recorded vote was four ayes, no nays and one excused member. Committee members directed that the ordinance be placed on the full council’s consent calendar for ordinary course consideration.