City Profiles / Medium Cities / Everett, WA

Everett, Washington

For cities in the overcast, mountainous Pacific Northwest, hydropower provides the most feasible form of renewable energy and Everett is no exception. The Snohomish County Public Utility District (SNOPUD) provides water and power for Everett, with 6 to 8 percent of electricity coming from the Jackson Hydroelectric Project—or enough to power 35,800 homes. More than 10 percent of the PUD's power comes from renewable sources, and the PUD is actively exploring tidal power and geothermal as renewable contributors to the energy portfolio. It also offers a program for residents to purchase green power directly, funding the expansion of wind power, and another that encourages homeowners to install solar panels on their properties.

Large hydropower dams like the Jackson Hydroelectric Plant use no fossil fuels in operation but can harm salmon runs, stress wildlife and degrade the ecosystem. The Wildlife Habitat Management Plan was created in 1988 to offset these damages and will be in effect until 2060. In accordance with a stipulation by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in 1984, the city of Everett and SNOPUD jointly prepared the protection of the 2,657-acre Lake Champlain Tract. It includes 55 acres of old growth forest, hundreds of acres of mixed and deciduous forest, 79 acres of wetland habitat and a 441-acre reservoir.

Everett has had a public transit system since 1893, with a rail system between the city and nearby Seattle. Now, SoundTransit's Sounder rail service shuttles between the two neighboring cities, and the Community Transit bus system is well used within the city. In summer 2009, Community Transit plans to open a new station in Everett for the Bus Rapid Transit line, SWIFT, to run to and from Aurora Village.