The Climate Action Plan Task Force advises the City on issues related to 100% renewable energy goals for community and municipal energy.
Final Report
The Climate Action Task Force generated a Final Report in December 2019.
Directives
In May of 2018 The Bellingham City Council passed Resolution 2018-06 to create the Climate Action Plan Task Force to develop recommendations to achieve accelerated 100% renewable energy targets, taking into account financial, technological and societal challenges resulting from such a transition. This limited-term Task Force has the following directives:
- Adopt a triple bottom line, plus technology philosophy
- Determine feasibility, costs and impacts of the 100% renewable energy ambitions
- Develop 100% renewable energy targets
- Identify funding mechanisms and develop a plan to achieve the Task Force’s recommended 100% renewable targets
- Develop accelerated greenhouse gas emissions targets for the Council to consider for adoption
- Identify policy considerations to attain accelerated targets
For more information on how the Task Force is doing its work, see Frequently Asked Questions.
Meetings
The Task Force will deliver a final report to Council by the end of 2019. Meetings occur on the first Wednesday of every month at 6:30 PM. Meetings are at City Hall, 210 Lottie Street — note dates and rooms below.
- September 5, 2018 (Mayor’s Board Room)
- October 3, 2018 (Mayor’s Board Room)
- November 7, 2018 (Mayor’s Board Room)
- December 5, 2018 (Mayor’s Board Room)
- January 2, 2019 (Mayor’s Board Room)
- February 6, 2019 (Council Chambers)
- March 6, 2019 (Council Chambers)
- April 10, 2019 (Mayor’s Board Room)
- May 1, 2019 (Mayor’s Board Room)
- June 5, 2019 (Council Chambers)
- July 17, 2019 (Council Chambers)
- August 7, 2019 (Council Chambers)
- September 4, 2019 (Council Chambers)
- October 2, 2019 (Council Chambers)
- October 16, 2019 (Council Chambers)
- November 6, 2019 (Council Chambers)
For further information on meetings, see agendas and meeting materials page.
On December 9, 2019, the Task Force presented its report to the City Council in the City Council Chambers, 210 Lottie Street, at 1:00 PM. See this link for the Dec. 9 meeting agenda.
Members
The Task Force membership includes community members with experience in relevant fields such as renewable energy, energy conservation, land use, energy/resource economics, community engagement, transportation, or finance; representatives from the energy utilities and public transportation; and staff representing City of Bellingham departments. The Task Force is supported by Mayor-designated staff and City Council designated staff.
Resources
Climate Action Resources – General
- Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Summary for Urban Policy Makers
- Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) The Carbon Free City Handbook
- Slide presentation on 100% Renewables Cities, April 2019
Energy Supply/Renewable Energy
- Puget Sound Energy (PSE) Local Renewable Energy Information
- Position Statement on Natural Gas – J. MacIntyre Witt, February 2019
- Slide presentation on Wind – Convivium Renewable Energy, February 2019
- Slide presentation on Solar – Western Solar, February 2019
- Slide presentation on Energy Supply – Puget Sound Energy, February 2019
- Slide presentation on Natural Gas Efficiency Programs – Cascade Natural Gas, March 2019
- Slide presentation on Power Supply Planning – E3, July 2019
- Slide presentation on Community Solar – PSE, August 2019
- Slide presentation on Options for Bellingham – PSE, August 2019
- Slide presentation on Potential for Renewable Natural Gas, Peter Moulton, WA State Department of Commerce, September 2019
- Slide presentation on Wind Potential in Whatcom County, John Bosche, ARCVERA Renewables, September 2019
- Slide Presentation on Small Scale Wind Energy, Mia Devine, Spark Northwest (as presented by John Bosche), September 2019
- Slide Presentation on Draft Energy Supply Recommendations – J. MacIntyre Witt, L. Murphy, and C. Fogelsong, October 2019
Buildings
- Slide presentation on Buildings and Land Use – City of Bellingham, March 2019
- Slide presentation on Draft Proposals from the Buildings Work Group, June 2019
- Slide Presentation on Draft Buildings Recommendations – Erin McDade, Mark Schofield, and Mark Gardner, October 2019
Transportation and Land Use
- Slide presentation on Transportation – City of Bellingham, March 2019
- Slide presentation on Transportation Technology Trends, May 2019
- Slide presentation on Climate Impact of Whatcom Transportation Authority – WTA, May 2019
- Slide presentation on Washington State’s Active Transportation Plan, May 2019
- Slide presentation on Draft Proposals from the Transportation Work Group, June 2019
- Slide Presentation on Draft Transportation Recommendations – Christine Grant and Rick Nicholson, October 2019
- Slide Presentation on Draft Land Use Recommendations – Derek Long and Don Goldberg, October 2019
Resources
- Agendas and Meeting Materials
- Climate Protection and Energy Page
- Task Force Membership Roster (PDF)
- Climate Action Plan Task Force Final Report (PDF)
Contacts
Public Works Natural Resources
Renee LaCroix
2221 Pacific Street
Bellingham, WA 98229
Phone: (360) 778-7900
Email: rlacroix@cob.org
