Our climate work is guided by our annual work plan, also known as the Climate Implementation Plan. The process of developing our annual Implementation Plan involves analyzing all of the measures in the City’s amended 2018 Climate Action Plan (CAP) to determine which ones to focus on each year. Greenhouse gas reduction, social, financial, environmental, and technological factors are all considered when evaluating each measure.
Highlighted below are some of the projects and programs we are currently working on. You can receive updates about our current work by signing up for our quarterly Climate News emails.
Highlighted Projects
Extreme Heat and Wildfire Smoke Response
The potential for extreme heat events and increasingly poor air quality due to wildfire smoke is threatening the health of City residents that lack access to air conditioning and air filtration.
This program provides cooling and air filtering resources to vulnerable people during heat or smoke events.
Wildfire Risk Reduction Education
This program provides educational materials to approximately 16,000 households. Additional education as well as outreach events and home risk assessments will follow in 2024.
Learn more about the Whatcom Conservation District’s wildfire risk reduction program by visiting https://www.whatcomcd.org/wildfire.
Home Electrification Pilot Program
The City is developing methods to integrate electric appliances into Bellingham homes. This work includes:
- Creation of a tool to assess the electrification potential of homes
- A pilot program to provide electric appliances to low- and moderate-income residents at reduced or no cost to the homeowner
- Electrification education
Additionally, City staff are working with consultants to research and propose additional methods for reducing carbon pollution generated by residential and commercial buildings. Learn more about this work by watching the April 2023 quarterly climate update given to City Council.
Electrification of New Buildings
In February 2022, City Council approved an ordinance to amend Bellingham building and energy codes with a focus on electrification, efficiency, renewable energy, and specifically space and water heating which accounts for the majority of energy consumption in buildings. The changes apply to new commercial and medium high-rise residential construction but not low-rise residential (single-family) homes, with the exception of relatively minimal solar-ready requirements. The three elements in this new ordinance are:
- No gas space heating and cooling, and no gas water heating
- Increased efficiency measures, such as better building envelopes, lighting, and insulation
- Solar readiness and/or solar installation requirements
Learn more about the amendments by viewing documents and media from the public hearing conducted on December 13, 2021 and the Jan. 24, 2022 Committee of the Whole meeting.
Improving Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure
In early 2021, the City of Bellingham received a $1.5 million grant from the Washington State Department of Commerce to be used towards installing new electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure across Bellingham. The City is contributing an additional $500,000 from its voter-approved Transportation Fund, bringing the total investment to $2 million. This project installs 90 new EV plugs distributed equitably across Bellingham on City-owned properties and public rights-of-way near destinations, workplaces, and multifamily residential areas. Installation of these new plugs began in 2022 and will continue through the end of 2023. To find updates on the project, please visit the Electrification of Transportation project page.
In November 2022, the City established rates for City-owned EV charging stations.
Increasing Alternative Vehicles in the City Fleet
As of May 2023, the City has nearly 70 alternative fuel vehicles in its fleet, including:
- 19 fully electric vehicles
- 10 plug-in hybrid electric vehicles
- 40 hybrid vehicles
- Includes 23 hybrid police cars
When possible, the City chooses electric and hybrid vehicles for all new and replacement vehicles as part of its commitment to achieving the goals in its Climate Action Plan. Barriers to purchasing electric vehicles include availability of stock for Light Duty vehicles and the capabilities and costs of available Medium and Heavy Duty vehicles.
Purchasing Renewable Energy with the Green Direct Program
The Skookumchuck Wind Farm near Centralia has been producing renewable energy on behalf of the City of Bellingham and many other partners through Puget Sound Energy’s (PSE) Green Direct program since November 2020. The City’s contract is for 20 years with the goal of purchasing enough renewable electricity generation to power most City-owned buildings. This energy project can produce up to 137 megawatts (MW) of wind energy—equivalent to powering 30,000 homes. The City’s contract with PSE will provide renewable energy to power City-owned buildings. The City is now investigating the potential of procuring renewable electricity generation for the entire community.
Climate Action Fund Proposal
In November 2021, Mayor Seth Fleetwood proposed to City Council that the City seek a source of continuous revenue through a Climate Action Fund for achieving Bellingham’s climate emissions targets, adapting to a changing environment, and serving our most vulnerable populations first. Bellingham currently has over 150 underfunded climate action goals identified in the community-supported Climate Action Plan. Meeting these ambitious goals will require additional funding not currently available.
Learn more by visiting the Climate Action Fund webpage.
Additional Projects
Find a full list of the items in the Bellingham Climate Action Plan on our Progress Update page.
