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BDAP debates electrification fee proposal; members ask for more data and warn of housing and grid impacts
Summary
Advisory members discussed a possible council fee to encourage electrification. Members and local business groups urged caution, citing limited data, potential multifamily cost impacts and local grid capacity concerns; BDAP planned to draft a letter to council ahead of an October 22 discussion.
Members of the Business Development Advisory Panel discussed a pending council conversation about electrification policy and a potential fee to discourage new gas hookups in new residential construction.
BDAP members and business representatives said there is insufficient local data on the policy’s cost and economic effects. Several members noted national and regional uncertainty over fee outcomes; one member cited Seattle estimates that electrification‑related costs could add thousands of dollars per multifamily unit. Panelists also flagged potential effects on housing affordability and on developers’ ability to deliver new multifamily units as central concerns.
Utility and business groups are preparing materials and testimony. Chamber and EDCO representatives confirmed they are collecting business testimony and have submitted materials to council. Staff and outside presenters mentioned that Pacific Power and Cascade Natural Gas have prepared or are preparing data on system capacity and demand‑side impacts; BDAP members suggested inviting utility representatives to brief the panel or council.
Legal and meeting‑process constraints were raised by the city attorney. Elizabeth Oshal of the City Attorney’s Office reminded the panel that “most everything that you’re talking about up here will need to happen in a public meeting,” and cautioned BDAP about serial deliberations outside posted meetings. She said materials and the information used to form recommendations must be publicly available.
Next steps: BDAP members agreed to draft a letter for council that would express the panel’s concerns and request further study and local impact analysis prior to using fees as the primary mechanism. Staff said the consultants and utility data to be presented at an upcoming council work session (not a final vote) will be circulated; BDAP planned to review materials and consider a motion to forward a letter ahead of the council discussion.
Ending: No formal vote on policy was taken by BDAP in the meeting. Staff and BDAP members agreed on the need for additional technical information — on construction cost impacts, grid capacity and developer economics — before recommending any fee structure to council.
