EVENTS

Jan. 27 – Climate Action Planning Webinar hosted by the Washington Climate Partnership, WA Departments of Commerce and Ecology and others. They will share progress on statewide climate planning efforts. 2 p.m.  Meeting Registration – Zoom.  

Feb. 1 – Motherload. Bike Tri-Cities presents a public screening of the documentary Motherlode (PG, 2019). Doors open at 1PM, film begins at 2PM. An award-winning documentary that uses the cargo bike as the vehicle for exploring parenthood in this digital age of climate change. More info.

Feb. 4 – Snake River Water Supply Replacement Study – Open House. The Bureau of Reclamation and the WA State Dept of Ecology released a draft report in December 2024 that lays out the most comprehensive and inclusive plan yet for addressing the water needs of farmers, communities, and ecosystems along the Lower Snake River. For more information on the report, see the Columbia Snake River Campaign’s press release. The Bureau and Ecology are hosting an open house and seeking comments.  5pm – 7pm at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites (4525 Convention Place, Pasco, WA).

Feb. 5 – Chasing Coral. 6pm. Tri Cities CCL is screening the film Chasing Coral at the Richland Public Library. Discussion afterwards led by chemist Mickey Rogers, Phd.         

 

Feb.  8 – Ready, Steppe, Grow! 11am – 1pm. Presented by Ernie Crediford, Boots on the Ground, Richland Public Library, Doris Roberts Gallery.

Feb. 21 – STC monthly meeting. On Zoom at 12:30pm. Make plans for spring events. Contact Lora.

Feb. 22 – Winter Birds. 9am – 1pm. Free community event! Bird tour, wildlife presentation, children’s crafts. McNary National Wildlife Refuge, 64 Maple St, Burbank, WA.

Feb. 26 –TC Chapter Citizens’ Climate Lobby monthly meeting. 7pm. Reduce GHG emissions: work together to help save the IRA, and more. Contact Steve.

ACTIONS FOR FEBRUARY

Lobby with the Environmental Priorities Coalition. The Washington 2025 Legislative Session began on January 13. Read about the Environmental Priorities Coalition 2025 priorities. The EPC will coordinate Environmental Lobby Day on Feb 6. I will send a bi-monthly update, or you can sign up for EPC rapid response action alerts  to get more frequent notices.

Support SB 5284 Recycling Reform Act – In theSenate Committee on Enviro & Energy on Jan. 28. Before 12:30pm, go here then select 5284, then “I would like my position noted for the legislative record”  Just select “Pro” then leave your information. It only takes a minute. To have a bigger impact, select to testify remotely or give written testimony.

Support HB 1153 Urban Forest Management.   Addresses importance of both tree canopy & green space for urban residents and shortage of housing through a DNR grant program to encourage cities/counties to adopt model urban forestry ordinances. 

Before 8am on Jan. 29, go here, then select “I would like my position noted for the legislative record”  which is very quick. Just select “Pro” then leave your information. To have a bigger impact, select to testify remotely or give written testimony.

Comment on the WA Dept. of Ecology Green Hydrogen fuel report. Deadline February 6.  Green hydrogen offers another pathway for reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions for hard-to-decarbonize sectors of Washington’s economy—including aviation and heavy-duty transport. Find out how to comment on our study or register for an online public hearing on Jan. 28, or Jan. 30.

WHAT WE DID in January

STC resource directory. We are building a resource directory for our website to make it easier for people in the Tri-Cities to find where it’s happening! It will be launched before earth day. Send suggestions.

WA Statewide Comprehensive Climate Action Plan (CCAP).  Continued to attend the advisory meetings that are setting short term policy and funding strategies for all sectors of social and economic levels within the purview of the State. Agriculture and energy are the evolving sectors, while transportation and waste management strategies are more defined in terms of reducing greenhouse gases. At the 1/7/2025 meeting, many of the committee members have stressed that to be fully comprehensive we must stem the production of throw away mentality and continued reliance on high energy consumptive materials in buildings and infrastructure projects, which is beyond the scope of the short-term remedies but is absolutely a drag on fighting carbon emission reduction. The committee has access to the best available data (see the new STC resource directory) but defining the sector overlaps for monitoring the success of the strategies needs refinement.

Prosser Comprehensive Climate Action planning. Next meeting 1/28/2025. This Climate Element is the most advanced in the Tri-Cities Region and will be coming to a conclusion soon. Based on observations thus far – it is likely to be a model for Small Urban and Rural in the Western USA.

Blue Mountain / Merit Badge Extravaganza.  As a Boy Scout Sustainability Merit Badge Counselor, Bill hosted a workshop on 1/25/2025. This is a new merit badge that can be applied to receiving the coveted Eagle Scout award. This is clearly a sign that sustainability is becoming mainstream messaging for youth. One of the discussion topics is “too much stuff”. Gotta love it!

Stated our support for these bills:

HB 1135/ SB 5197 – GMA Compliance: Ensures local jurisdictions, if found to be out of compliance, will update their plan, not revert to old plans. Learn more .

HB 1150 – Recycle Reform Act: requires packaging and paper product companies fund our recycling system. Several states including Oregon already adopted producer responsibility programs. Learn more.

HB 1303 – CURB pollution: reduces pollution by considering cumulative health risks and prioritizes protections to the most impacted communities. Learn more.         

NEWS and THINGS to READ

Boots in the Basin: a local environmental coalition monthly column. By Jenny Rieke.February 2025Tumbleweird magazine pg. 30.

Saving the Inflation Reduction Act, Citizens’ Climate Lobby climate challenge for 2025.  By Steve Ghan. February Tumbleweird magazine, pg. 26.

Big Myth About Renewable Energy: California electricity is expensive. Not because of batteries, but liability for powerlines starting wildfires. Grist.org.

Gateway to grants and incentives: FundHubWA connects you to climate and clean energy funding opportunities.