Seattle City Light Biomass Project Records, 1978-1985

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Seattle City Light
Title
Seattle City Light Biomass Project Records
Dates
1978-1985 (inclusive)
Quantity
.4 cubic foot, (one box)
Collection Number
1206-06
Summary
Records regarding a research project for generating electricity
Repository
Seattle Municipal Archives
Seattle Municipal Archives
Office of the City Clerk
City of Seattle
PO Box 94728
98124-4728
Seattle, WA
Telephone: 2062337807
Fax: 2063869025
archives@seattle.gov
Access Restrictions

Records are open to the public.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for processing this record series was provided through a grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.

Historical NoteReturn to Top

City Light provides electricity and electrical and conservation services to its public and private customers. It is the largest public utility in the Pacific Northwest. Public responsibility for electrical energy dates to 1890 with creation of the Department of Lighting and Water Works. In 1902, Seattle voters passed a bond issue to develop hydroelectric power on the Cedar River under the administration of the Water Department. Electricity from this development began to serve Seattle in 1905. A City Charter amendment in 1910 created the Lighting Department. Under the leadership of Superintendent James D. Ross, the department developed the Skagit River hydroelectric project which began supplying power in 1924. Both public and private power was supplied to Seattle until 1951 when the City purchased the private electrical power supply operations, making the Lighting Department the sole supplier. The Boundary Project in northeastern Washington began operations in 1967 and supplied over half of City Light's power generation. By the early 21st century, approximately ten percent of City Light's income came from the sale of surplus energy to customers in the Northwest and Southwest with the remainder of City Light's financial support coming from customer revenue. The current name of the agency was adopted in 1978 when the Department was reorganized.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Records of a US Department of Energy-funded research project to determine the feasibility of growing trees for the purpose of fueling power plants. Seattle City Light subcontracted with the University of Washington College of Forest Resources to conduct research on the cultivation of selected tree species. Records include grant and contract documents, correspondence regarding requests for documents by UW Professor, George McFadden, and travel logs, including trip reports.

Files regarding a biomass promotional video may be found in City Light Video Program Records (record series 1201-13)

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Preferred Citation

[Item and date], Seattle City Light Biomass Project Records , Record Series 1206-06. Box [number], Folder [number]. Seattle Municipal Archives.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Separated Materials

Many reports and proposals from the Biomass Project were separated for cataloging.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

1206-06:  Biomass Project Records , 1978-1985Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/1
McFadden, George (University of Washington Faculty)
1984-1985
1/2
McFadden, George (University of Washington Faculty)
1984
1/3
Grant and Contracts
1978-1984
1/4
University of Washington Contract
1980-1982
1/5
Biomass Travel Logs
1978-1980
1/6
Biomass Travel Logs
1981-1982
1/7
Biomass Travel Logs
1983
1/8
Biomass Travel Logs
1984

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Forest biomass--Washington (State)
  • Power resources Research--Washington--Seattle

Personal Names

  • Dolan, Linda Sutliff
  • McFadden, George William

Corporate Names

  • Seattle City Light

Geographical Names

  • Seattle (Wash.)