Bellingham Council creates climate committee, will begin discussing recommendations
Bellingham City Council members established a standing Climate Action Committee on Monday, Jan. 6, to bring the city toward its goal of using 100% renewable energy in the next 10 to 15 years.
Council member Hannah Stone was named chairwoman of the panel, which also includes council members Pinky Vargas and Dan Hammill.
A volunteer Climate Action Task Force — composed of academics, activists and industry professionals — has been working for more than a year on recommendations for the city to reduce its carbon footprint in the face of global climate change.
City officials and the public got their first look at the task force report on Dec. 9.
Task-force members focused on transportation and related issues, buildings and land use and types of energy and clean-energy economics. A copy of the report is available on the City Council website.
Possibly contentious task force recommendations include a gradual shift from natural gas to electricity throughout the city for home heating and hot water.
But the proposals don’t require solar panels on every roof, they don’t require new windows, foundations or roofs, and they don’t require removal of gas stoves or fireplaces, said task force member Erin McDade, of the nonprofit Architecture 2030, during a December presentation.
McDade said that electricity can be produced from renewable sources like sun, wind and water and the recommendation is to use electrical appliances in new buildings and gradually convert old buildings.
City Council members will start discussing the plan on Monday, Jan. 13, its first full meeting of the year.
Council members, including the recently elected Hollie Huthman and Lisa Anderson, on Jan. 13 will address the Climate Action Task Force recommendations presented Dec. 9, said Monea Kerr, the council’s legislative assistant.
A meeting agenda will be available Wednesday afternoon, she said.
