The City of Bellingham is currently recruiting members for Community Working Group “C” – Low-carbon energy generation and procurement, a working group to inform climate action projects. Full description of this group below. Please submit applications of interest before close of business Friday, October 6, 2023, using the City’s Boards and Commissions Application Process.
Purpose
The City of Bellingham is conducting research relative to three critical areas of activity outlined in the City’s Climate Action Plan. These three areas are:
- Electrification and energy efficiency for residences and commercial buildings
- Electric vehicle adoption
- Low-carbon energy generation and procurement
To support this work, the City is forming three limited-term Community Working Groups to provide input on the development of programs that will lower carbon pollution in each of these areas and help the City reach community carbon emissions reduction goals.
Scope and Commitments
- Three working groups will be formed, as described in detail below.
- The working groups will be advisory to the City and its consulting team as they are developing program ideas for each area of activity. Feedback will inform City decisions on how to more fully develop draft programs over the course of the research project.
- Group members are expected to attend 4-5 meetings lasting approximately two hours each.
- Group members will need to spend some time outside of meetings to assist in these efforts. This work may include contacting local organizations, independent research, email correspondence, and working with staff or consultants in between meetings.
- Group members will agree to follow principles of participation for meetings.
Community Representation
The City is seeking representation from a diversity of residents who are interested in and affected by the City of Bellingham’s climate efforts in the two areas outlined above. The City is seeking applicants who have developed a background in one or more of the areas below through lived experience and/or professional training.
- Residents who may be impacted by changes to home energy systems, personal transportation, and low-carbon energy generation, especially low-income residents and those that represent and/or assist low-income residents
- Businesses who may be impacted by changes to energy systems and transportation
- Government and public organizations
- Non-profit and community groups
- Development industry organizations (affordable housing developers, construction companies, real estate agencies, etc.)
- Economic organizations
- Electric vehicle and solar and wind energy systems sales and maintenance businesses
Working Group Descriptions
Community Working Group “A” – Building Electrification
(This group’s work has concluded. We are no longer accepting applications for this group)
The scope of this Community Working Group is to decrease community carbon pollution generated by residential and commercial buildings. Existing residential and commercial buildings in Bellingham account for 43% of community carbon pollution. The group will provide input in developing incentive programs, policies, regulations, and other tools that the City may utilize as allowed under Washington State law. Considerations include cost, benefit, likelihood of success in Bellingham, and other elements. Special consideration should be given to ensure equity and support for vulnerable and low-income populations, including electric cooling for large multi-family structures funded through the Bellingham Home Fund. Potential upgrades will be primarily focused on energy efficiency and electrification. Energy efficiency will be focused on air sealing and insulation as well as other building treatments which would allow for lower carbon emissions as well as conservation of occupant or owner funds. Electrification will be focused on major sources of carbon pollution (space and water heating systems) but may include other minor sources (cooking, clothes driers, and other uses of natural gas) which would allow for total electrification of buildings.
Community Working Group “B” – Vehicle Electrification
(This group’s work has concluded. We are no longer accepting applications for this group)
The scope of this Community Working Group is to increase use of electric vehicle (EV) technology in Bellingham. Carbon emissions associated with combustion of liquid petroleum fuels accounts for 29% of Bellingham’s community carbon pollution. Increasing the use of EV technology is one strategy in lowering carbon pollution along with shifting transportation modes from single occupancy vehicles to walking, biking, and mass transit. This working group will provide input in developing programs, policies, and other tools that the City may utilize to incentivize or require at definitive point in time. Considerations include cost, benefit, equity, likelihood of success in Bellingham, and other elements. Special consideration should be given to ensure equity and support for vulnerable and low-income populations. Potential tools include installation of charging stations, increasing access to existing stations, EV charging requirements for new construction, consumer education, group purchase programs, utility support, vehicle purchase incentives and other options.
Community Working Group “C” – Low-carbon energy generation and procurement
Accepting applications for this group through October 6, 2023
The scope of this Community Working Group is to increase the use of low-carbon/renewable energy in Bellingham. The group will provide input in developing low-carbon energy incentive programs, policies, regulations, and other tools that the City may utilize as allowed under Washington State law. Considerations include cost, benefit, likelihood of success in Bellingham, and other elements. Special consideration should be given to ensure equity and support for vulnerable and low-income populations, including electric cooling for large multi-family structures funded through the Bellingham Home Fund. Potential programs and policies for exploration within the group include community solar, renewable energy permitting process changes, financial incentives, large-scale renewables procurement, development of on-shore and off-shore wind turbine installations, battery installations, and other topics.
Apply
Please use the link below to apply to participate in one of the Community Working Groups.
Contact
- Mayor’s Climate Office, (360) 778-8100 or mayorsoffice@cob.org
