Whatcom Environmental Council

Check out this new blog, "Just Call it Methane," from WEC board member Cynthia Mitchell.

In the first of what will be a three-part series, Cynthia dives into methane's role in global warming, how Bellingham and Whatcom County contribute to methane pollution, Puget Sound Energy's (PSE) and the oil and gas industry's plans to ratchet up our use, and what WEC is doing in collaboration with others to turn this ship around.

Click the link below for the whole blog!

www.whatcomenvirocouncil.org

Friends of the San Juans tracks projects that could increase shipping in the Salish Sea. Their latest analysis documents the recent and projected increase in tanker traffic to and from Canadian ports. The new Canadian threat is the proposal to move one million barrels a day of heavy tar sands crude oil at Roberts Bank, just two miles from our border.https://sanjuans.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Western-Canadian-Pipeline-Project-of-National-Interest-Comment-Washington-State-Ecology.pdf

Visit the Whatcom Museum on Sept. 4 for a day of art, storytelling and conversations about protecting the water we all share!

💧 Join us at the Lightcatcher museum!

From 12-7 pm, we will explore water through art, history, story tellers, a water-themed art market, poetry and interactive demonstrations.

From 4-8:30 pm, panels of community experts and citizens will share ideas on how we work together to solve the water crisis.

At 6 pm Setting Sun Circle movies and entertainment.

Learn more ➡️ https://bit.ly/4wypYwL

Image description: White and blue background with transparent image of a river. Image text reads: "Sharing our Water. From the Whatcom Museum, the Salish Current and the LWVBWC. Date: Sept. 4. Time: 12-8:30 pm. Location: The Whatcom Museum. A festival of art, voices and community. Come for the fun and stay for serious discussions about our responsibility to protect this valuable life source." There is also a cartoon graphic of a forested river and a LWVBWC logo.

Whatcom Environmental Council August 2026 Newsletter

August 2026 Newsletter Read our news and latest updates.

Public Interest Groups Push Washington’s Largest Utility to Lower Rate Increases and Meet Clean Energy Laws

Seattle, WA — Puget Sound Energy’s proposal seeks major rate increases and costly new gas infrastructure. Climate, environmental, and social justice organizations, represented by Earthjustice, filed testimony urging the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) to reduce the proposed rate hike from Washington’s largest utility and hold it accountable to meet the state’s clean energy goals. The utility is required by state law to reduce its climate pollution over time and has ample pathways to achieve this.


Read the Earthjustice press release here: https://earthjustice.org/press/2026/families-want-lower-costs-and-less-pollution-public-interest-groups-push-washingtons-largest-utility-to-lower-rate-increases-and-meet-clean-energy-laws

Reminder: Water Pollution Action Alert - Post Point proposed discharge permit continues years of pollution!

A TIMELY ALERT
Why does the proposed wastewater permit for our sewage treatment plant at Post Point propose allowing our city to continue polluting the Bay with no improvement required?

The WEC Board signed onto a joint letter with RE Sources and the Sierra Club, calling for commonsense changes to protect our local marine environment and all the plants and animals who live there, and those of us who consume local seafood and shellfish. The status quo stinks!

WHAT TO DO:

Ecology is accepting public comment on this permit through August 10, 2026. Send your message now and ask them to strengthen the permit before it’s finalized.
https://secure.everyaction.com/WJKWg-qZ0UONk2s9eFok5Q2

We are sharing news of a job opening for a Communications Coordinator

We are sharing news of a job opening for a Communications Coordinator COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR Please share with anyone you know who might be qualified and interested in applying. Position Begins Aug 20th - Sept 1st, 2026 (negotiable), open-ended with periodic review. Part time 5-8 hours per week Primarily remote, occasional Zoom and in person meetings Compensation....

Clarifying Staff Communications Regarding Earthcare's Bethel, PA Facility
July 23, 2026

TO: Mayor Kim Lund, and Bellingham City Council

In this letter to Mayor Lund and the Bellingham City Council, WEC, along with RE Sources and the Sierra Club, seek to clarify Public Work’s presentation on June 15, 2026 to City Council regarding alternative technologies to the incinerators. We believe that presentation lacked the context and thoroughness needed for City Council to understand that a key alternative technology is available much sooner than Public Works indicated. Given the critical health and environmental concerns that could be resolved by (1) prompt incinerators shutdown, (2) interim trucking of sludge to safe landfills, and (3) expedited selection of replacement technology, we write to be sure that City Council understand what the June 15 presentation missed.https://0164f939-9076-4107-a45a-1f71fe9db344.usrfiles.com/ugd/0164f9_003593917199440f8736ec7b2ebf0ab4.pdf

Water Pollution Action Alert! Post Point proposed discharge permit continues years of pollution!

Water Pollution Action Alert - Post Point proposed discharge permit continues years of pollution! A TIMELY ALERT Why does the proposed wastewater permit for our sewage treatment plant at Post Point propose allowing our city to continue polluting the Bay with no improvement required? The WEC Board signed onto this joint letter with RE Sources and the Sierra Club, calling for commonsense changes t...

Effects of Global Warming are Felt Locally

by Charlie Brown, WEC Board Member

Global warming is a global issue with global effects. Some of those effects are being felt regionally and locally. Solving the problem will require local, regional, state, and national action from individuals, companies, organizations, regulators, and legislators.

Increasing greenhouse gas concentrations upsets the overall global energy balance by reducing radiant energy loss to space and trapping it here on Earth. This causes accumulation of energy, warming, and climate change...

Read the rest of this new WEC blog post here:
https://www.whatcomenvirocouncil.org/post/effects-of-global-warming-are-felt-locally