Businesses continue to recover a year after Greenwood explosion

SEATTLE — Businesses are still recovering in Greenwood a year after a devastating natural gas explosion.

Two groups will hold news conferences about the cleanup Thursday.

PHOTOS: Greenwood businesses leveled in huge blast

One is Puget Sound Energy, whose decommissioned gas line was the source of the explosion.

The other is a group critical of PSE’s safety record.

The explosion last March leveled buildings on Greenwood Avenue North.

The blast came from an abandoned natural gas line, which according to state investigators, Puget Sound Energy failed to properly disconnect and seal when it was decommissioned a decade ago.

The explosion damaged several businesses. Some haven't been able to reopen and have filed a lawsuit for damages.

Thursday, the environmental protection group Beyond Coal, along with an organizer from the Sierra Club and Seattle Councilman Mike O'Brien, are holding a news conference to talk about the challenges businesses have faced and concerns about natural gas safety.

Puget Sound Energy said it is planning to expand its gas infrastructure throughout Western Washington.

Last month, the utility acknowledged it can do a better job of making sure decommissioned pipes are safe.

"The pipe was an abandoned pipe. We want to make sure that whatever we have of those in the future we can look at them and find them and accurately take care of them,” said PSE spokesman Andy Wappler.

Puget Sound Energy disagrees with parts of the state's investigation of the explosion, which could lead to a $3.2 million fine.

PSE is holding its own event on the anniversary of the blast. They'll be going door to door speaking with people in the Greenwood community.

They'll also have an outreach team at Fred Meyer nearby to talk about natural gas safety measures.

Cox Media Group