Seattle/King County Climate News
Robin Briggs
Seattle
The City Council is discussing amendments to the Mayor's proposed renewal of the Seattle Transit Measure. The Transit Measure currently provides increased funding for Seattle's public transit, in particular increased bus service, infrastructure improvements like bus lanes and bus signals, as well as subsidized Orca cards for lower income residents. The existing measure expires this year, and must be renewed if these services are to continue. The Mayor put forward a proposal to increase funding (it was decreased in 2020 because of the pandemic). City Councilors have proposed amendments, including some that would significantly decrease funding levels. Council is holding a public hearing tomorrow, with remote testimony starting at 9:30am (sign up here from 8:30am), or in person starting at 5pm at City Hall. Or you can send email to cou...@seattle.gov.
The Washington Court of Appeals ruled that the City can be sued over the Environmental Impact Plan for the Comprehensive Plan, letting two challenges proceed to the Superior Court for adjudication. This delays adoption of the zoning changes for the Plan's Centers and Corridors Phase, which had been scheduled for this summer and is now put off until at least winter 2026 or early 2027. If the Court then decides that more work on the EIS is required, it could be delayed much longer. Councilmember Lin has proposed new legislation that would limit the type of SEPA appeals that can be heard by the City's Hearing Examiner.
The Office of Environment and Sustainability's Director, Lylianna Allala, will be speaking about the Seattle Climate Plan update tomorrow, July 13 at City Hall from 12-2pm as part of Seattle Climate Week. The talk is free and open to all. OSE also has a survey for residents about the Climate Action Plan that you can fill out to tell them about your priorities.
State
Gov Ferguson asked Washington's agencies to come up with budgets that contain "significant and ongoing" cuts. This coming year, the Legislature will be voting on a new biennial budget for 2027-2029, and state agencies are working now to draft a budget for the Legislature to consider in the next Legislative Session. The Legislature passed the new Millionaire's Tax in the last Session, but new revenue from the tax won't be available until 2029. According to the Seattle Times, "the directive signals the start of what is likely to be a contentious budget debate in the 2027 legislative session that could pit Ferguson’s budget-cut demands against a renewed push for higher taxes from progressive Democrats in the Legislature."
Washington has officially signed a linkage agreement with California and Quebec to join in a single carbon market. This is expected to reduce prices for carbon allowances under the Climate Commitment Act, which will decrease revenues from the CCA. Prices for allowances are sharply cheaper in California and Quebec. The state's plan is that it will also reduce costs for the energy transition. Ideally we will get the same amount of carbon reductions but businesses and ultimately consumers will pay less for it.
Futurewise is suing Thurston County for failing to come up with an adequate climate plan, as required by state law. Comprehensive Plans are now required to address climate change. Thurston County set a goal of a 95% reduction, but has only a vague plan for how to get there, according to Futurewise, 'calling for "promoting" and "encouraging" where the law demands action'. At the same time, Thurston's County Comprehensive Plan will increase density in rural areas, increasing sprawl and carbon emissions. The case will be heard by the State's Growth Management Hearings Board, and Futurewise expects a ruling in August.
Elsewhere
Zurich has a CoolCity project to decarbonize part of its downtown core using a district energy city based on water from Zurich's lake. This is similar to a ground source heat pump, but water will come from the lake and can be used to either heat or cool existing buildings in the district. When the project is completed, buildings in the area will have a time during which they can convert their heating systems to use the new district energy system. Once that is done, the existing gas network will be decommissioned. Decommissioning an entire neighborhood at a time in this way is generally much cheaper than converting building by building and avoids escalating prices for the last few customers on an aging gas network.