The Clallam County Public Utility District has withdrawn its proposal to buy and operate Naval Magazine Indian Island’s electric distribution system after the U.S. Navy described it as uneconomical.
Clallam PUD General Manager Shelley Burgett said at Monday’s PUD commissioners meeting in Port Angeles that she couldn’t explain the Navy’s characterization of the proposal.
In August, the Navy concluded that Clallam PUD had the best proposal for buying and operating the electricity distribution system at the Indian Island ordnance station.
At the time, Navy officials were eager to begin the paperwork but district staff wanted to investigate further.
Clallam PUD staff took a field trip to Indian Island in August to evaluate the system and develop a proposal for buying and operating it.
Indian Island’s electric system includes more than 5 miles of primary overhead lines, 1.8 miles of primary underground lines, 35 pole mount transformers, 23 pad mount transformers, switches and a 350-kilowatt emergency generator.
PSE would supply power
If Clallam County Public Utility District had acquired the system, Puget Sound Energy — which serves most of East Jefferson County — would continue to supply the power.
Puget Sound Energy buys wholesale electricity from the Bonneville Power Administration to serve Navy facilities in Jefferson and Kitsap counties, including Indian Island.
