For the ninth consecutive time, the Whatcom County Council has extended its interim moratorium on building crude oil exporting facilities in the Cherry Point industrial zone. This latest extension of the temporary ban narrowly passed by a vote of 4–3 at the council’s virtual public hearing on June 2, 2020. Councilmembers Tyler Byrd, Ben Elenbaas and Kathy Kershner voted against …
Bellingham City Council Calls for Rent and Mortgage Relief; Port Establishes Rental and Moorage Relief Program
Bellingham City Council Calls for Rent and Mortgage Relief, Port Establishes Rental and Moorage Relief Program
Whatcom County Council Creates COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, by Interfund Loan of Money from the County’s EDI Fund
The Whatcom County Council has established a special revenue fund that will give them the cash flow to quickly respond to the coronavirus pandemic crisis. The COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund will track and account for revenues used for the county’s rapidly expanding response to the virus which has already infected thousands and killed hundreds of people statewide. The county council …
Local Lawmakers Hope to Revive Phillips 66 Joint Venture for the Green Apple-Renewable Diesel Project
How long should it take to determine the environmental
impacts of environmentally-friendly renewable energy projects?
The sudden cancellation of the Green Apple Project left Whatcom County leaders and legislators surprised and disappointed but determined to somehow bring the project stakeholders back to the table.
What’s new in 2020 for the Port of Bellingham
Commissioners for the Port of Bellingham are rotating commission seats for 2020. Michael Shepard, who was serving as secretary, is now president. Bobby Briscoe, who was serving as president, is now vice president. Ken Bell, who was serving as vice president, is now secretary. The decision was made at the Port’s Dec. 10, 2019 meeting. Commissioner Briscoe said “it’s been …
Whatcom County Council Receives Warning Letter from Legal Representative for British Petroleum of Cherry Point
Letter to the Whatcom County Council concerning the “Interim Moratorium” from Brian Israel of Arnold & Porter: At its meeting on December 3, 2019, the Whatcom County Council voted to enact an eighth extension of the “Moratorium on the Acceptance and Processing of Applications and Permits in the Cherry Point Urban Growth Area the Primary Purpose of Which Would B …