HomeMy WebLinkAboutres2023-044Whatcom County COUNTY COURTHOUSE
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a Bellingham, WA 98225-4038
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Agenda Bill Report
File Number: AB2023-694
File ID: AB2023-694 Version: 1 Status: Approved
File Created: 10/17/2023
Department: Council Office
Assigned to: Council
Agenda Date: 10/24/2023
Related Files:
Entered by: CHalka@co.whatcom.wa.us
File Type: Resolution
Primary Contact Email: chalka@co.whatcom.wa.us
TITLE FOR AGENDA ITEM:
Final Action: 10/24/2023
Enactment #: RES 2023-044
Resolution requesting that the Whatcom County Executive and department staff propose amendments
to the Whatcom, County Code to support clean energy
SUMMARY STATEMENT OR LEGAL NOTICE LANGUAGE:
Resolution requesting that the Whatcom, County Executive and department staff propose amendments
to the Whatcom, County Code to support clean energy
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE FILE
Date: Acting Body:
Action:
Sent To:
10/24/2023 Council APPROVED
Aye: 7 Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Frazey, Galloway, and Kershner
Nay: 0
Attachments: Proposed Resolution, Letter from Whatcom PUD
Whatcom County Page 1 Printed on 1012512023
1 PROPOSED BY: GALLOWAY
2 INTRODUCTION DATE: OCTOBER 24, 2023
3
4 RESOLUTION NO. 2023 - 044
5
6 REQUESTING THAT THE WHATCOM COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND DEPARTMENT
7 STAFF PROPOSE AMENDMENTS TO THE WHATCOM COUNTY CODE
8 TO SUPPORT CLEAN ENERGY
9
10 WHEREAS, clean energy is a resource that preserves public health, safety, and welfare
it by reducing the emission of greenhouse gases; and
12
13 WHEREAS, the Clean Energy Transformation Act (CETA) (SB 5116, 2019 commits
14 Washington State to an electricity supply free of greenhouse gas emissions by 2045; and
15
16 WHEREAS, on November 9th, 2021, the Whatcom County Council approved Resolution
17 2021-049 adopting the 2021 Climate Action Plan; and
18
19 WHEREAS, the 2021 Washington State Energy Strategy acknowledges that importing
20 renewable energy from eastern Washington and other nearby states is limited by transmission,
21 which can take decades to plan and build; and
22
23 WHEREAS, the 2021 Climate Action Plan is committed to fostering the local growth of
24 clean energy adoption such as solar power, geothermal energy, and hydrogen fuel to harness its
25 environmental and economic benefits and create energy resilience; and
26
27 WHEREAS, the 2021 Climate Action Plan recommends setting a goal consistent with the
28 U.S. Department of Energy programs to provide community solar energy to 3,500 Whatcom
29 County households by 2025; and
30
31 WHEREAS, according to the 2019 Community Research Project, lack of community solar
32 is a common concern of Whatcom County stakeholders; and
33
34 WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) defines community solar as a project
35 or purchasing program that provides energy flow to multiple customers' types and allows
36 subscription to a shared system of solar panels from larger `solar farms' and land -based solar
37 energy systems; and
38
39 WHEREAS, land -based solar energy systems are ground -mounted solar arrays that offer
40 an independent source of energy or serve as part of a hybrid system, allowing property owners
41 to choose an electric supply at a fixed price and offer the ability to generate extra income by
42 selling surplus electricity to a utility; and
43
44 WHEREAS, community solar projects benefit renters and low-income households by
45 creating greater equity and energy access, as renters do not have access and many
46 homeowners cannot afford the costs of rooftop solar; and
47
48 WHEREAS, the Washington State Department of Ecology is undergoing a process to
49 produce statewide Programmatic Environmental Impact Statements to evaluate impacts and
50 mitigations for future clean energy projects including utility scale solar and wind power, Green
51 Hydrogen, and co -located battery storage systems, to be completed by 2025; and
52
1 WHEREAS, the 2021 Climate Action Plan promotes the need to research, develop, and
2 collaborate to build a hydrogen electrolysis facility to support the transition of large diesel
3 engines found in shipping and construction to emissions -free hydrogen fuel cells; and
4
5 WHEREAS, the U.S. DOE defines electrolysis as carbon -free hydrogen production which
6 splits hydrogen and oxygen cells using renewable electricity sources through a unit called an
7 "electrolyzer"; and
8
9 WHEREAS, the U.S. DOE Energy Earthshots Initiative aims to expand the hydrogen
10 market and reduce the cost of clean hydrogen by 80% by 2031; and
11
12 WHEREAS, Washington State passed SB 5588-2019 which authorizes public utilities
13 districts (PUDs) to produce, distribute and sell renewable hydrogen energy; and
14
15 WHEREAS, according to the 2019 Community Research Project, community members
16 are advising the County to explore geothermal projects and resources for power production in
17 Western Washington; and
18
19 WHEREAS, the U.S. DOE supports the Enhanced Geothermal Earthshots Initiative as an
20 effort to reduce by 90% of the cost of enhanced geothermal systems by 2035 and promote
21 carbon -pollution -free electricity; and
22
23 WHEREAS, the U.S. DOE defines geothermal energy as a renewable resource such as
24 natural or man-made reservoirs of hot water deep below the Earth's surface which can be used
25 for electricity generation, heating and cooling, or direct use of hot water; and
26
27 WHEREAS, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has
28 conducted research to pinpoint areas in Washington state where geothermal energy
29 development would be most promising and has concluded that the test well sites near Baker
30 Lake and south of Mt. Baker have commercial scale temperature gradients; and
31
32 WHEREAS, WCC 20.68.060 limits the siting of electricity -generating facilities, including
33 those utilizing renewable resources, to Heavy Impact Industrial (HII) zones; and
34
35 WHEREAS, Whatcom County Code currently prohibits all uses that are not explicitly
36 listed within the code as a permitted, accessory, administrative approval, or conditional use
37 within a zoning district; and
38
39 WHEREAS, on September 21, 2023, the Whatcom County Climate Impact Advisory
40 Committee (CIAC) discussed the need for revised codes to accommodate the expansion of clean
41 energy systems; and
42
43 WHEREAS, the adoption of clear and comprehensive codes for land -based solar energy,
44 geothermal energy, and hydrogen energy is essential for the safe and efficient expansion of
45 clean energy systems; and
46
47 WHEREAS, Whatcom County needs to expand clean energy alternatives to meet the
48 goals of Washington State and the Climate Action Plan (2021).
49
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Whatcom County Council requests the
Executive's Office, Planning and Development Services (PDS) Department, Public Works
Department, and other staff as needed propose an amendment to the Whatcom County Code to
address land -based solar systems; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Whatcom County Council requests the Executive's
Office, PDS Department, Public Works Department, and other staff as needed propose an
amendment to the Whatcom County Code to address hydrogen fuel systems; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Whatcom County Council requests the Executive's
Office, PDS Department, Public Works Department, and other staff as needed propose an
amendment to the Whatcom County Code to address geothermal energy systems; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the Whatcom County Council requests that Planning
and Development Services Department staff add these projects to address code amendments
for land -based solar energy, geothermal energy, and hydrogen energy into the annual docket of
proposed code amendments.
APPROVED: ois 24th day of October , 2023.
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Karen Frak0s by°eftiail 10/17/2023/ch
Civil Deputy Prosecutor
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