How will Bellingham pay for climate action? Proposed tax discussed at city’s public forum
The city of Bellingham’s town hall meeting on climate action Monday night gave community members a chance to debate how the city should pay for a greener future, advocate for more pedestrian- and bike-friendly neighborhoods and offer insight on sustainable building.
“There’s an expectation that all communities in the world take bold (climate) action,” said Mayor Seth Fleetwood in opening remarks at the virtual event, which allowed the public to engage with City Council. “That’s what we are proposing to do in Bellingham.”
Bellingham has a goal to reduce community emissions 70% by 2030 and 85% by 2050, both compared to 2000 levels. (However, Western Washington University instructor Jill MacIntyre Witt urged the city Monday, March 21, to set even more ambitious targets when updating the Climate Protection Action Plan in 2023. She served on the city’s Climate Action Plan Task Force almost four years ago.)
The city also used the event to highlight a number of the city’s climate priorities for 2022, which include installing dozens of electric vehicle charging stations, devising a plan to adapt to climate change impacts and developing an incentive-based program to help electrify newly constructed homes. (Many climate experts say electrification is key in cutting our reliance on planet-warming fossil fuels, since electricity can be generated from clean energy sources such as wind and solar.)
How will Bellingham pay for climate action?
The issue that garnered some of the strongest debate of the night was Fleetwood’s proposed Climate Action Fund, which would be spent on efforts to reduce planet-warming emissions, adapt to climate change and increasing extreme weather events and serve Bellingham’s most vulnerable populations first.
The fund, first proposed in November, would appear as a ballot measure. The money would come from a property tax levy — that’s what prompted concern from some residents at Monday’s forum.
“I’m a little scared of an add-on to property taxes which will affect renters already struggling to stay in Bellingham and largely not succeeding,” said Abe Jacobson, a community member.
Community member Alek Vila expressed concern for the environment — “I’ve been a vegan for 20 years, I drive an electric vehicle” — but was also worried about funding climate action through a tax on residents. Vila described it as a “regressive action” and said industry has a much greater responsibility for climate change than individual residents.
Councilmember Michael Lilliquist acknowledged that a property tax could raise some equity concerns but described it as the best option compared to a sales or utility tax.
“The challenge is to make sure the money is used for community benefit,” Lilliquist said.
The Climate Action Fund could be used to install electric vehicle charging stations and secure bike storage for tenants in older apartment buildings, he said. (New apartment buildings are already required to provide some of these amenities, Lilliquist said.)
Other residents expressed eagerness to contribute to the fund.
“I’m getting kind of old, and I can’t think of a better thing to spend my money on than protecting future generations,” said Judy Hopkinson, a community member.
Community member Rhys Faler pointed out that worsening climate change costs taxpayers money too, with floods destroying communities and extreme weather impacting public health.
“How much are residents burdened by heat waves or their health affected by fires?” Faler said.
Fewer cars, more solar and heat pumps
A handful of residents spoke in support of expanding safe bike lanes, trails and sidewalks throughout areas of Bellingham to help wean the community off cars. (Transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Bellingham.)
The Happy Valley neighborhood especially “needs assistance” when it comes to increasing bike and pedestrian infrastructure, said Councilmember Lisa Anderson.
Equity should be centered in all the city’s climate decisions, a number of community members said.
“We need more cooling stations than just the library,” said community member Lindsay MacDonald, referencing the city’s plans to install electric cooling and ventilation at Bellingham Public Library and establish it as a location for community members to take refuge during extreme heat or smoke events.
A number of residents expressed support for solar panels and electric heat pumps, with some referencing their own systems. Councilmember Hollie Huthman echoed the praise for electric heat pumps, which she switched to after ditching her gas-powered furnace.
“I would never go back,” Huthman said. “It’s wonderful, especially the cooling in the summer.”
Markus Virta, who works in the solar industry, shared that the biggest challenge for solar companies is workforce development and finding qualified people to install systems. Virta is director of sales and business development at Bellingham-based Western Solar, and he said the company is booking out into the fall for solar installations.
Virta is also president of the Washington Solar Energy Industries Association and advocated for students to be introduced to the trades earlier.
Community member Jaime Curtis asked city council members to consider what they could do to eliminate the “green premium,” an idea introduced in Bill Gate’s book about solving climate change. The green premium is the cost difference between a carbon-emitting product and a clean alternative — the price difference between traditional jet fuel and a zero-carbon biofuel alternative, for example.
The town hall on climate action was recorded and will be available online. The city will hold several more town halls in the coming months regarding public safety, funding priorities and affordable housing. More details can be found on the city’s website.
