The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has reached Whatcom County and the County Council has allotted a quarter-million dollars for an emergency response. County Executive Satpal Sidhu declared a public health emergency on March 10, 2020 after the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) confirmed a case of COVID-19 in a Whatcom County resident. The individual is a woman in her 60’s …
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.
Whatcom County Council passes new boating rules for Lake Samish after residents reach compromise
Boaters on Lake Samish get a little more room after the Whatcom County Council approved new boating rules on Jan. 28, 2020. The new rules are the result of a compromise reached by a majority of Lake Samish residents, and a reaction to the boating restrictions put in place last June. The new rules mean that recreational boaters can once …
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 …
Moratorium on unrefined fossil fuel exports at Cherry Point extended yet again
For the eighth time, the Whatcom County Council has extended a moratorium on new or expanded crude oil exporting facilities in the Cherry Point Industrial Zone — home to some of the county’s biggest employers. Any new projects that would increase exports of crude oil or other unrefined fossil fuels will not be permitted for another six-months until the council …
Citizen Journalism: Whatcom County Council Meeting Report for October 22, 2019
Birch Bay’s Golf Cart Zone was one of the main points of interest at the Whatcom County Council meeting on October 22, 2019. The public meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm. Council members Barbara Brenner, Rud Browne, Barry Buchanan, Tyler Byrd, Todd Donovan, Carol Frazey and Satpal Sidhu were present. Link to October 22, 2019 Whatcom County Council …