TACOMA LNG RESISTANCE
Last November, the long anticipated court ruling for the Tacoma LNG facility by the Pollution Control Hearings Board sided with Puget Sound Energy, but this fight is far from over. Last month the Puyallup Tribe and Earthjustice filed an appeal and the case will be heard in a higher court, so keep the prayers and thoughts coming! The appeal process might take up to a year to complete.
LNG Resistance Team Meeting
Thursday, January 20, 12:00pm
Online, register here.
Our LNG Resistance team is continuing to meet every other Thursday. Although we can’t work to influence the legal appeal, there is organizing we can do to minimize some of Puget Sound Energy’s harms and political influence on our region.
PSE will soon file a request with the Utilities and Transportation Commission to raise rates for residential gas and electric customers to recoup the construction costs of the Tacoma LNG facility, even though the main purpose of the facility will be for maritime fuel and many families are already struggling to pay their utility bills. Written comment link and virtual hearing date coming soon!
Our Resistance team will also be supporting the East King County Public Utility District campaign that could replace PSE as an electricity provider with publicly owned power for 120,000 customers via the following 2022 ballot initiative…
STATE ENERGY CODES
The opportunity to update and improve our building energy codes to incorporate the latest technologies comes up only once every three years. Take action to electrify our buildings and transition our economy away from fossil fuels: Tell the statewide Building Code Council to support new codes to help build an all electric future!
CRUISE-FREE SALISH SEA
Throughout the pandemic, cruise companies have tried to minimize the perceived risks of continuing business as usual. Recently the on-board infection rates have skyrocketed and every cruise ship currently operating with passengers in the U.S. has active cases on board. According to the Washington Post, “Last week, the CDC warned all travelers, including those who are vaccinated, to avoid cruise ships. The advice came after the agency said the number of cases skyrocketed from 162 in the first two weeks of December to 5,013 between Dec. 15 and 29.” And those results are despite protocols and promises of safety by the cruise ship companies.
Putting profit over people and common sense leads to disastrous results. We see these same empty promises regarding the impacts of these fossil fuel-intensive mega ships on climate and water quality. We see other harms, such as the impact of ship exhaust on public health and the exploitation of onboard workers, being ignored completely. It’s time for the Port of Seattle to start working on a transition away from this harmful industry to a cruise-free Salish Sea.
Want to get involved? Fill out this volunteer form, email Stacy, or follow Seattle Cruise Control on Twitter and Facebook!
MARITIME SOLUTIONS
Last month, our Maritime Solutions Team took part in the webinar From Land to Sea: Building Sustainable Maritime Futures, co-hosted by the Pacific Coast Coalition of Seafarers, 350 Seattle, Seattle Cruise Control, the ShipItZero Campaign, Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility, and Climate Action Families. Check out the recording here!
Want to get involved with the Maritime Solutions Team? It’s easy, join our next planning session:
Maritime Solutions Team Planning Session
Tuesday, January 18, 7:00pm
Online, register here. Questions? Email Stacy.
AVIATION TEAM
Our Aviation Team had much to celebrate in 2021. As part of the King County International Airport Community Coalition, and with help from your emails, we won an agreement not to expand Boeing Field! This year, we’re aiming for similar success against plans to vastly expand the number of flights at SEATAC.
We are helping both King County and the City of Seattle do a better accounting of aviation emissions in their climate plans. With the Maritime Team and other groups, we are considering legislation to make protecting the climate a part of the Port’s mandate, perhaps in conjunction with a “Green Amendment” to the state constitution. We challenged misinformation and damaging policies related to the climate impact of aviation at Port of Seattle meetings, Adam Smith’s Congressional Town Halls, FAA hearings, and innumerable other commission meetings.
We’re gearing up for an even more engaging and effective year in 2022 and we would love to have your help! Contact Laura to get involved!
JUST TRANSITION IN TRANSPORTATION
The Just Transition in Transportation campaign is fighting against the business-as-usual expansion of highways and organizing to build a more equitable transportation system in Washington.
This story isn’t new, and you can help tell it! Host a screening of Ramps to Nowhere, a film about the successful fight against highway expansion that would have torn apart neighborhoods throughout Seattle in the 1960s and 1970s. Afterwards, have a discussion with friends and neighbors about how we can continue this work in our communities today. Learn more here!
Want to get more involved in the campaign? In addition to Ramps to Nowhere hosts, we need folks to post on social media, engage in policy research, and help research political donors. More info here.
FEDERAL POLICY TEAM
The Federal Policy Team is gearing up for 2022: we’re studying a proposed rule at EPA regarding methane emissions, pushing legislation on plastics pollution, and feeling alarmed by the obvious fact that a failing democracy limits our ability to pass meaningful climate legislation. For that reason, 350 Seattle has joined 350 Silicon Valley in a letter to Congress addressing both voting rights and Build Back Better. Take a moment to write to your senators here!
And for an update on what’s happening in Congress, Puget Sound Advocates for Retirement Action (PSARA) has sponsored a webinar with Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, leader of the Progressive Caucus:
Have We Started Building Back Better?
Tuesday, January 25, 5:00pm
Online, register here.
The ability to fight climate change hinges not just on a functioning democracy, but on the world’s ability to fight Covid. Please write to your Congressional representatives asking them to co-sponsor the End the Pandemic Now Resolution, which lays out a clear roadmap for how to increase global production of COVID vaccines, test kits, and treatments.
Did you know that the U.S. plastics industry’s contribution to climate change is on track to exceed that of coal-fired power in this country by 2030? If this alarms you as much as it does us, here are several actions you can take, including a petition to the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers to reject new and expanded petrochemical permits. There’s even a petition to urge Amazon to stop sending packages in single use plastic packaging.
Want to get involved in our federal work? Join the Federal Policy Team here!
SHORT SESSION IN OLYMPIA
Yep, it’s that time of year again! The state legislative session starts this week and it’s going to be a short, fast sprint to the session’s end in mid-March. In play are measures to remove fossil gas from buildings, add climate elements to the Growth Management Act, improve police accountability, and pass a transportation package that reduces emissions and serves the quarter of Washingtonians who don’t drive.
Want to add your voice to the session? The 350 Washington Civic Action Team has got you covered, with a strong set of legislative priorities and curated actions delivered to your inbox twice a week–sign up here!
CLIMATE GRIEF AND EMPOWERMENT
We are coming into the New Year with renewed energy. But we’re also nonplussed by the commercial machine that seems to encourage us to “get productive again.” In changing times and seasons, we continue to center that it is okay to slow down as needed (even in January). Our path forward requires us to connect with community and take space for our emotions. That work is slow and tender and careful.
Climate Grief and Empowerment
Saturday, January 8, 10:00–11:45am
Online, register here.
We invite you to join us for the next gathering of Climate Grief and Empowerment for this ongoing community care as we face global challenges together.
Olympic Climate Action 