View XML QR Code

Seattle City Light Creston Coal Plant Project Records, 1980-1984

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Seattle City Light
Title
Seattle City Light Creston Coal Plant Project Records
Dates
1980-1984 (inclusive)
Quantity
2.2 cubic feet, (3 boxes)
Collection Number
1206-10
Summary
Planning records for a coal plant in Creston, Washington
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.
Return to Top

Historical Note

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.

Return to Top

Content Description

Planning records of the Power Manager of City Light concerning a coal-fueled power plant Washington Water Power Company proposed to build at Creston, Washington. City Light and other utilities were invited to purchase a share of the electricity generated by the plant, but the plant was never built. Records include correspondence, draft agreements, economic analysis, financial records and reports. Also included are minutes, and other material of the Creston Steering Committee and the Creston Citizens’ Advisory Committee.

Return to Top

Use of the Collection

Preferred Citation

[Item and date], Seattle City Light Creston Coal Plant Project Records Record Series 1206-10. Box [number], Folder [number]. Seattle Municipal Archives.

Return to Top

Administrative Information

Return to Top

Detailed Description of the Collection

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

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Coal-fired power plants--Washington (State)
  • Electric power--Washington--Seattle
  • Electric utilities--Washington--Seattle

Corporate Names

  • Seattle City Light
  • Washington (State). Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council
  • Washington Water Power Company

Geographical Names

  • Creston (Wash.)
  • Seattle (Wash.)

Finding aid prepared by Janet Ness
2010

CC Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

About Creative Commons Licenses in Archives West

Loading...
Loading...