EVENTS

Aug. 29 – Initiative 2117 and Washington’s Climate Commitment Act, 6pm, Richland Public Library (955 Northgate Drive) Gallery Room. Douglas Ray, Board Chair of Carbon Washington and Senior Research Fellow Emeritus at Pacific NW National Laboratory, will share his views on the strengths and weaknesses of the Climate Commitment Act and explain why he and Carbon Washington oppose I-2117. The League of Women Voters of WA State also opposes the initiative.  Hosted by the BF LWV.

Aug. 31 – Sept. 1. Educate about Initiative 2117 at Tumbleweed Music Festival, at the TC Chapter of the Citizens’ Climate Lobby table. Help save the Climate Commitment act.

Sept. 3 – Climate on Tap talk on Bending the Emissions Curve. by Bob Wegeng. 5:30pm at Round Table Pizza, Leslie Rd., Richland.

Sept. 4- WA. Dept. of Ecology Air Quality Grants – online information sessions (Zoom).

Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024, 10am – noon

Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, and Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024, 2pm – 4pm

Ecology is working to improve air quality in Washington communities that are historically overburdened with health, social, and environmental inequities and are highly impacted by criteria air pollution, such as ozone and fine particles. They are offering a new grant to organizations serving overburdened communities and Tribes.  To learn more, and get technical assistance register for a session HERE.

Sept. 5 – Post Card Writing Party. Join friends of the Tri-Cities Citizens’ Climate Lobby to urge environment-minded people to Vote No on I-2117, 5-7pm at the Richland Public library.

Sept. 6 – STC monthly meeting Please join us on ZOOM at noon. Special Guest, Molly Williams, Pollution Reduction Grants Section Manager, Air Quality Program, WA Ecology, will add to the discussion about the WA Ecology Air Quality/ Overburdened Communities Grant, as we discuss specifics about air-quality elements that Sustainable Tri-Cities might focus on in their application to directly address the local health impacts created by air pollution. The Tri-Cities to Wallula is one of “16 areas in Washington that are overburdened and highly impacted by criteria air pollution .”

Sept.  7 is International Day of Clean Air. Sustainable Tri Cities and BF Council of Governments (BFCOG) will have a table at REI in Kennewick, 10 am until 1pm, to provide information on air quality and protecting people from wildfire smoke, and ozone.

Sept.  7 is International Day of Clean Air. Sustainable Tri Cities and BF Council of Governments (BFCOG) will have a table at REI in Kennewick, 10 am until 1pm, to provide information on air quality and protecting people from wildfire smoke, and ozone.

Sept. 12 – Friends of Badger Mt. Hike Wine Dine (Reservation Required). At Red Mountain’s new Avennia Winery. 4-7pm.  Cost of $47 per person includes a guided vineyard hike, Avennia’s very special wines, and a dinner catered by Pacific Pasta and Grill. There’s a limit of 65 people.  RSVP by clicking here

Sept. 13– BFCOG at the Richland Farmer’s Market. 9am – 1pm. See the Benton Franklin Council of Governments table to learn about their current surveys and projects, and how to get involved.

Sept.  18 –TC Chapter CCL monthly meeting. There are many ways to be involved with others working to fight climate change. Contact Steve.

Sept. 18- Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) Open House. The Benton-Franklin Council of Governments (BFCOG) is releasing the draft 2025-2028 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for community members to review the document and provide comments Aug. 19 – Oct. 3. The Open House is from 3pm – 5pm via Zoom or in person at 587 Stevens Dr., Richland.

Sept.  26- Urban Heat Resilience (UHR) meeting, 4pm on Zoom. Planning for Riverfest, Oct. 5.

Sept. 28 – National Drive Electric Week EV show at the Reach Museum, Richland. By the Mid-Columbia Electric Vehicle Association. 10am-2pm.  More vehicles to show are still needed. For more information or to register your vehicle, go HERE

ACTIONS FOR September

Opposing I-2117. Attend the talk at the Richland library on Aug. 29, join the TC CCL chapter table during the Tumbleweed music festival Aug. 31 and in sending postcards to help save the Climate Commitment Act on Sept. 5, hand out flyers, and pledge to vote no at https://no2117.com/

STC Sustainability Showcase 2024. Select the organizations you think most deserve recognition for their work by taking our Sustainability Showcase Survey, available through September.

Proposed Changes to the Tri-Party Agreement (TP) and Consent Decree On Hanford Site Tank Waste  (reminder).Public comment period: May 30 – Sept. 1, 2024. The U.S. Dept. of Energy, WA State Dept. of Ecology, and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have signed a settlement agreement and are proposing new and revised cleanup deadlines in the TPA and Washington v. Energy consent decree. Read more HERE.

NEWS AND THINGS TO READ

A bipartisan pathway for pricing carbon in 2025 by Steven Ghan. Tumbleweird magazine, Aug. 2024.

 Climate Opportunity Action Plan for Benton and Franklin Counties. Tri City Herald Op Ed. Aug. 17, 2024 by Steven Ghan.

Keeping our air breathable isn’t a partisan issue. Vote No on I-2117. Tri City Herald Op Ed Aug. 25, 2024 by Richlard Badalamente.

Energy council weighs proposal on Horse Heaven wind turbines. Tri City Herald Aug. 25, 2024 by Annette Cary. Thursday Aug. 29 will be a public meeting at 3pm, but public comments will not be taken. The deadline for submission was Aug. 25.

For more news and events, see the Sustainable Tri-Cities website www.alsctc.org/events and please “Like” the Face Book page.