PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS: The Bonneville Power Administration and private
electrical power generating companies and utilities in Washington
are undertaking extraordinary measures to mitigate the
electricity shortage and its impacts by conserving electricity,
minimizing spill, using electricity reserves by drawing down
reservoirs beyond normal, raising prices, and undertaking other
measures.
WHEREAS: Despite recent decreases in wholesale power prices,
utilities continue to face financial uncertainty, and could
continue to alleviate their problems with strong conservation
measures, temporary generation, and use of alternative fuels.
Several large businesses continue to be idled due to the cost of
electricity, and hundreds of people remain out of work. Public
facilities have ceased operations due to inability to pay current
and projected power expenses. Conservation efforts by government
agencies have been quite successful, but insufficient to solve
the problem alone.
WHEREAS: Without action now in the face of potential winter
shortages, citizens of Washington, beginning with vulnerable
people of limited means, may be unable to obtain or afford power
for basic heating, lighting and cooking needs, threatening their
health, safety and general welfare.
WHEREAS: Vital public services remain at risk, and immediate
steps must be taken to alleviate social and economic impacts to
people and property. We must take all steps necessary to avoid
jeopardizing the public health, safety and general welfare while
doing everything possible to minimize the impact on fish and our
environment.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Gary Locke, Governor of the state of Washington,
find that vital public services, particularly affordable
electrical power, remain at risk, and there continues to exist a
situation that threatens to disrupt or diminish the supply of
energy to the extent that the public health, safety, and general
welfare may be jeopardized; and therefore find that an energy
supply alert continues to exist within this state. I have
obtained the prior approval of the joint committee on energy
supply, and with that approval hereby extend for an additional
sixty days, commencing August 24, 2001, through October 22, 2001,
the state of energy supply alert proclaimed under Chapters 43.06
and 43.21G RCW on January 26, 2001, and subsequently extended
through August 23, 2001. I further direct all state and local
governmental agencies to fully comply with all orders that may
accompany this proclamation or that may be issued pursuant to
this proclamation as deemed necessary to preserve and protect the
public health, safety, and general welfare, and to minimize, to
the fullest extent possible, the injurious economic, social, and
environmental consequences of this energy supply crisis. This
proclamation applies statewide.
| IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the state of Washington to be affixed at Olympia, this 17th day of August, A.D., Two Thousand one. | ||
| Gary Locke Governor of Washington |
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BY THE GOVERNOR:
Assistant Secretary of State |
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