HomeMy WebLinkAboutClimate Action Feb 7 2023Whatcom County
Council Climate Action and Natural Resources Committee
COUNTY COURTHOUSE
311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105
Bellingham, WA 98225-4038
(360)778-5010
Committee Minutes - Final
Tuesday, February 7, 2023
10:45 AM
Hybrid Meeting
HYBRID MEETING - ADJOURNS BY 11:15 A.M. (PARTICIPATE IN -PERSON AT
311 GRAND AVENUE SUITE 101, SEE REMOTE JOIN INSTRUCTIONS AT
www.whatcomcounty.us/joinvirtualcouncil, OR CALL 360.778.5010)
COUNCILMEMBERS
Todd Donovan
Ben Elenbaas
Kaylee Galloway
CLERK OF THE COUNCIL
Dana Brown -Davis, C.M.C.
Council Climate Action and Natural Committee Minutes - Final February 7, 2023
Resources Committee
Call To Order
Roll Call
Committee Chair Kaylee Galloway called the meeting to order at 1.0:45
a.m. in a hybrid meeting.
Present: 3 - Todd Donovan, Ben Elenbaas, and Kaylee Galloway
Absent: None
Also Present: Barry Buchanan, Tyler Byrd, Carol Frazey, and Kathy Kershner
Announcements
Special Presentation
1. A13202.3-1 l 5 Update from the Climate Impact Advisory Committee
Ellyn Murphy, Climate Impact Advisory Committee Chair, presented about
a recommendation from the Climate Impact Advisory Committee (CIAC)
stating, "We write to recommend that Whatcom County advocate for state
legislation that will accelerate the pace of local renewable energy
development and to create climate resilience and equity in our energy
system. We need to remove the barriers that now limit the use of solar
energy to a small minority of Whatcom County residents" (quote taken
from "CIAC Priorities" letter on file).
She answered how House Bill 1427 would affect those who are already
doing net metering, whether these House Bills presented are new bills or
ones the Council has already weighed in on, whether the CIAC would bring
recommendations to the Council about what we can do locally to take
advantage of this legislation, and what the CIAC can do to facilitate
implementation.
Galloway spoke about what the Council might do, and thinking about how
they might like to see these issues move forward.
Tyler Schroeder, Director of Administrative Services, answered whether the
Council can work with the Administration on these four bills and
incorporate them into our State advocacy.
This agenda item was PRESENTED.
Items Added by Revision
There were no agenda items added by revision.
Whatcom Coamy Page
Council Climate Action and Natural Committee Minutes - Final February 7, 2023
Resources Committee
Other Business
Adiournment
Galloway stated later today she plans to testify in support of a bill that is
being heard in the Environment and Energy Committee on House Bill 1735
around net ecological gain.
The meeting adjourned at 11:14 a.m.
ATTEST:
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WA
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9 -
Kaylee Galloway -via email 2/12/2023
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Dana Brown -Davis, ooni4 Clerk
Kaylee Galloway, Committee Chair
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Kristi Felbinger, Minutes Transcription
Whatcom County page 2