The state utilities regulator, the Utilities and Transportation Commission, has created a Conservation and Energy Planning Section to focus on energy use and renewable energy, officials announced Tuesday.

The section focuses on conservation and renewable energy requirements, energy reliability, greenhouse gas emissions and low-income programs.

“These changes recognize that conservation and renewable energy have become larger and more visible parts of our work,” Regulatory Services Director Mark Vasconi said in a statement.

The just-created Conservation and Energy Planning Section is under the leadership of longtime staff member Deborah Reynolds, assistant director.

Officials appointed Acting Assistant Director for Energy Regulation Tom Schooley as the permanent assistant director for the energy section. The section continues to focus on economic regulatory matters, including rate cases, finance and accounting.

The program goes unused by about 20 percent of qualified workers entitled to receive a check for up to $5,751. In Washington last year, 426,124 taxpayers applied for the credit, bringing about $847 million into the state economy.

Gregoire proclaimed Jan. 27 as Earned Income Tax Credit Day to raise awareness.

“Every year, there is money available to working families and individuals that does not get claimed,” she said. “File your 2011 tax return and take advantage of this tax credit, which puts money in your pocket and into our local economy.”

The state Department of Commerce and the state Department of Social and Health Services joined the federal Internal Revenue Service, plus other local and national organizations, to remind people to apply for the Earned Income Tax Credit.

Find eligibility requirements and learn more at the Department of Commerce website, www.commerce.wa.gov.

Issaquah-based Costco pleased shoppers more than other major retailers, Consumer Reports announced Tuesday.

The magazine surveyed more than 26,000 readers to compile the data. Customers told Consumer Reports about 55,108 shopping experiences at 10 retailers, including Costco, JCPenney, Macy’s, Target and Walmart. The survey respondents also detailed experiences at the retailers’ online outlets.

Costco emerged as the only chain to earn the top rating for overall merchandise quality, in brick-and-mortar stores and online. The warehouse chain also earned above-average scores in all 10 product categories, including electronics and jewelry.

Costco’s website performed better than warehouses on all counts except product quality. The website also received top marks for checkout, layout and product value.

Customers dinged Costco for below-average selection in warehouses, in-store service and the checkout experience, due to long lines. Shoppers also complained about Costco’s dearth of fitting rooms.

In addition to store ratings, the report also includes Consumer Reports reader scores for the product offerings at all major stores, including clothing, jewelry, hardware, home decor, kitchenware, electronics, sporting goods and toys.

The complete survey results appear in the March issue of Consumer Reports.

Costco is the largest employer in Issaquah. The company employs about 2,700 people in Issaquah corporate offices and at the flagship warehouse in Pickering Place.

“We encourage people to start with their agent or insurer. But our staff can often help with denied claims, delayed payments and confusing policy language,” state Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler said in a statement.

Consumers call the Insurance Consumer Hotline at 1-800-562-6900 toll free or file a complaint at www.insurance.wa.gov.

Kreidler’s agency offered tips and frequently asked questions about insurance claims:

Q. Will filing a claim make my insurance premiums go up?

A. It may. So it’s a good idea to first weigh the cost of the repair, your deductible and the possibility that you’ll pay higher insurance rates in the future before deciding whether to file a claim.

Q. My neighbor’s tree fell on my house. Whose insurance pays?

A. Your homeowners’ insurance will often pay for the damage, even if it was your neighbor’s tree. And you’ll be responsible for the deductible. Sometimes, your insurer can get the neighbor’s insurance to pay, if it can be shown that the neighbor was at fault. But that can be hard to prove.

Q. My car was damaged. Can I choose which repair shop to take it to?

A. Yes, you can generally choose which shop to take the car to. But the shop and insurer must agree on price. If they can’t agree, you could be stuck paying the difference.

Q. A tree fell on my car. Am I covered?

A. Yes, as long as you have comprehensive auto coverage.

Q. We lost power and my freezer thawed. Am I covered?

A. Yes, most homeowners’ policies cover this. But it may not be worth filing a claim, especially if you have a high deductible.

Q. Trees and branches fell in my yard. Will my homeowners insurance pay for cleanup?

A. Probably not. Standard homeowners policies don’t cover tree removal and cleanup unless the tree fell on the home, car, garage, etc.

Q. A tree fell on my carport. Will my insurance cover that?

A. Yes, homeowners’ coverage will usually cover that kind of damage.

Q. I’m worried about flooding. Does my homeowners policy cover flooding?

A. No. A standard homeowners policy does not cover flooding. Flood coverage typically requires a separate policy. Many homeowners get this coverage through the federally run National Flood Insurance Program.

Q. My television was ruined by a power surge when the electricity came back on. Will my insurance cover that?

A. Most homeowners’ policies do cover appliances and electronics ruined by a power surge. But consider your deductible. In some cases — particularly for low-cost or old equipment — it may not be worth filing a claim.

Whether the job requires residents to hire a tree-removal service to clean up a downed tree or a general contractor to repair damage to a roof and gutter, the agency said a little homework upfront can protect consumers against fraud, shoddy work or, simply, bad contractors.

In most cases, residents hiring a contractor should plan the project and interview several contractors before making a decision. But, if time is short, and the project is a yard full of limbs or a damaged home, some basic steps can help protect consumers:

• Check contractors on www.hiringacontractor.lni.wa.gov to verify if the company is registered. Consumers can also check on the amount of insurance coverage the contractor has and how large a bond the company carries.
• Beware if contractors ask to be paid in cash, to have a check made out to someone other than the business, want to work only weekends or use high-pressure sales tactics. Such red flags could be signs of a scam.
• Avoid paying a large deposit to a contractor or the entire cost of the job upfront, and be sure to get the required notice to customer disclosure for any project of more than $1,000.
• If the contractor uses subcontractors or costly materials from suppliers, get lien releases from the contractor. Before making final payment on the job, make sure a subcontractor is not owed any money. Unpaid subcontractors can hold the consumer responsible for work by putting liens on his or her home.

In order to recognize local entrepreneurs’ accomplishments, the Issaquah Chamber of Commerce is seeking nominees for the Innovation in Issaquah contest, a showcase for local businesses offering unique services. Honorees demonstrate innovation in product development, services, systems or strategies.

The chamber launched the program last year. The initial honorees included Democracy Live, Restorix Health, Applied Precision and the nonprofit Eastside Baby Corner.

Nominate a business or nonprofit for the honor at www.issaquahchamber.com/form/innovation-in-issaquah by 5 p.m. Feb. 6.

Chamber leaders plan to recognize the 2012 honorees at a Feb. 22 luncheon.

East King County Chambers of Commerce Legislative Coalition members urged legislators to foster job creation, shore up transportation funding, and adopt reforms to kindergarten through 12th-grade and higher education.

The coalition is comprised of 10 chambers from the region, including the Issaquah Chamber of Commerce.

“Our state is at an important crossroads and the Issaquah Chamber of Commerce is proud to work with the coalition to affect positive change for the Eastside business community in Olympia,” Issaquah Chamber of Commerce CEO Matthew Bott said in a statement.

Lawmakers face a bursting docket. Legislators must close a $1.5 billion budget gap. The state Supreme Court ruled legislators failed in funding basic education — a constitutional obligation. In addition, the Legislature is also considering a measure to legalize same-sex marriage in Washington.

The collation released a 10-part legislative agenda Jan. 5 at a breakfast attended by state lawmakers.

The firm received the award from Contract magazine in a New York City ceremony Jan. 27.

“We’re honored to receive this prestigious award,” Sarah Reisenauer, CollinsWoerman senior interior designer, said in a statement. “By working closely with our client and extended design team, the space we created together enhances the patient journey, benefits the community, and achieves our design and aesthetic vision.”

The hospital spans 550,000 square feet, and includes a medical office building, cancer center and ambulatory care center. The project focused on the concept of a commons — a central, unifying and orienting public space. Special design features include 40- to 60-foot high LED back-lit metal sculptural grass blades on concrete shear walls and a winding tile trail embedded in the terrazzo floor.

“The interior elements combine poetry of color and nature to play off the building’s natural surroundings,” Reisenauer said. “We wanted to design the space from the perspective of the patient, so it was essential to include crisp aesthetics, material integrity, and a sense of warmth and familiarity.”

The application from the nonprofit medical marijuana operation, GreenLink Collective, came after planners, officials and residents crafted a medical marijuana ordinance designed to balance public safety concerns and patients’ access to the drug.

GreenLink organizers applied to occupy units E, F and G in a commercial building at 160 N.W. Gilman Blvd. The organization does not intend to grow marijuana in the space. GreenLink founders Jake and Lydia George applied for the license on behalf of the organization Dec. 19, the day the ordinance took effect.

The facility is proposed as a place to process and deliver medical marijuana to qualified patients, offer classes and information, and sell supplies for people to produce and consume marijuana under the framework of state law.

Organizers said medical marijuana deliveries should not be visible from public spaces, in order to meet city code.

The code requires a 1,000-foot buffer between a collective garden and a community center, school or another collective garden. The rules set a 500-foot buffer between a collective garden and park, preschool or daycare center. The ordinance also established a limit of a single collective garden per site.

In addition, applicants for a collective garden safety license through the city must undergo a background check by the Issaquah Police Department. The city can deny applications to people convicted of a felony drug law violation in the past 10 years.

If the city approves the application, GreenLink operators must install a security system and cameras onsite.

The collective opened in late 2010 at a former daycare center near Issaquah Valley Elementary School in a neighborhood not zoned for commercial operations. Though advocates said nonprofit status afforded the medical marijuana operation some flexibility, officials ruled against GreenLink’s initial application for a city business license.

The decision launched a monthslong process to set rules for medical marijuana operations in Issaquah.

In June, council members imposed a moratorium on collective gardens as local and state officials scrambled to ease patient access to medical marijuana. Changes in state law for medical marijuana also shifted early last year. Still, city officials upheld the moratorium in July to allow planners additional time to formulate rules for medical marijuana operations.

Patients using GreenLink for access to medical marijuana offered emotional testimony throughout the process. The city received few complaints about the proposed ordinance.

Though marijuana remains illegal under federal law, enforcing state-level medical marijuana laws is left to local and state law enforcement officers, despite the obvious conflict between state and federal regulations.

Washington Initiative 692, passed in 1998, allows people suffering from certain medical conditions to possess a 60-day supply of marijuana. Under state law, physicians can recommend — but not prescribe — the drug for patients.

Washington law allows up to 10 qualifying patients to join together and form a collective garden of up to 45 plants, so long as the marijuana is not visible from public spaces.

The voter-approved state law permits medical uses for patients suffering from debilitating conditions, such as AIDS and cancer. Washington and 15 other states — plus Washington, D.C. — allow health care providers to authorize medical marijuana as a treatment.

Warren Kagarise: 392-6434, ext. 234, or wkagarise@isspress.com. Comment at www.issaquahpress.com.

A hostess for the café, Ashley Hutchinson, was one of the several employees rushing around the very busy restaurant. During a brief respite after taking a to-go order, Hutchinson said the café had reopened the morning of Jan. 20 after closing early the morning of the day before due to a loss of power brought on by the storms that hit Jan. 18.

While the café was open Jan. 20, most of Northwest Gilman Boulevard still seemed dark and oddly deserted that afternoon. The only store obviously up and running was QFC supermarket, open thanks to a generator and seemingly doing a very brisk business.

The following day, with power restored, Gilman and its many shopping plazas were packed with shoppers and visitors. At the café, one man said local residents all were suffering from cabin fever.

“Everybody’s been stuck in the house and wanting to get out,” said the customer, who would only give his name as Ryan.

Hutchinson said café visitors were coming from as far as Snoqualmie, where power outages were rumored to remain widespread. Sure enough, after Hutchinson made her comment, one couple waiting to be seated said they had made the drive down from Snoqualmie because their home still was without power.

“We were just cold and kind of hungry,” Shirley Galante said.

When the power went down in the wee hours of Jan. 19, Galante said she and husband Rob stoked up their fireplace to try and keep warm. Rob Galante said the couple had used nearly all of the firewood he had intended to last most of the winter.

While heat was a problem, Shirley Galante said the biggest obstacle turned out to be the inability to cook food.

“I will be very glad to have a warm meal,” she said.

When the power died at her Issaquah home, Peggy Bastyr said she shortly had no choice but to head to her mother’s home in Seattle. She was holding the reason in her arms. Unable to heat formula for her son, 8-month old Todd, Bastyr said she had to hit the road despite the stormy weather. She said she had never driven in the snow previously.

“I was scared to death,” she admitted, adding that she had only returned to Issaquah that morning. Her husband missed the entire adventure, being out of town on business.

Also waiting for a table in the café, Issaquah’s Dan Powers said he thought local news outlets had blown the storm out of proportion. In fact, Powers said he was watching TV coverage of the weather when his power died early Jan. 19. It came back early Jan. 21. Besides heat, he and girlfriend Angela Moore said the biggest problem was simple boredom.

“We just didn’t have much to do,” Moore said.