Increasing Resilience
to Climate Change at
Seattle City Light
Crystal Raymond
Climate Adaptation Strategic Advisor
Seattle City Light
Conservation Resources Division
Seattle City Light
Resources
One of the nation’s largest
municipal utilities
 360,000 residential customers
 40,000 non-residential customers
 780,000 service area population
 Winter peak (except downtown)
 656 transmission circuit miles
 2300 distribution circuit miles
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Seattle City Light Sources of Power
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KEY CLIMATE IMPACTS FOR SCL
 Reduced snowpack
 Altered streamflow timing
 Higher peak flows in winter
 Lower low flows in summer
 Changes in wind and
thunder storm patterns
 More frequent wildfires
 More frequent landslides
 River and urban flooding
 Sea level rise and storm
surge
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CLIMATE RESEARCH PROGRAM
Current
 Glacier inventory, recession, and streamflow contributions
 Changes in streamflow amount and timing
 Changes in extreme weather (lightning and wind storms)
 Sea level rise
Future
 Heat effects on energy
demand and delivery
 Stream temperature
 Endangered fish species
Skagit hydroelectric project North Cascades Plan
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Adaptation Planning
Planning Process
1. Impacts
Identification
2. Vulnerability
Assessment
3. Risk Management
Prioritization
4. Adaptation
Planning
Planning Areas
 Reservoir Operations (flood control, hydropower, fish protection, and recreation)
 Integrated Resource Planning
 Transmission and Distribution Infrastructure
 Emergency Response and Safety
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QUESTIONS
[email protected]
Boundary hydroelectric project, Pend Oreille River, Washington
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