Seattle/King County Climate News
Robin Briggs
Seattle
The Stand Up for Science rally drew thousands of people to protest the administration's cutbacks on research (Seattle Times, paywall). The Seattle rally was one of a nationwide set of rallies. There are also rallies every Friday at noon at the Jackson Federal Building in support of Federal workers.
Hearings on the bulk of the Comprehensive Plan are on hold while six lawsuits are going forward challenging the Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed new Plan. However, in the meantime the city will proceed with zoning changes to bring the city into compliance with the State's new Middle Housing rules. These changes must be completed by May 30, or State rules will take over on June 30. The Select Committee on the Comprehensive Plan will meet twice a month through the end of May on the middle housing changes.
Car-ownership rate hits a record low in Seattle, as 20.3% of Seattle households are car-free (Seattle Times, paywall). This makes Seattle, behind San Francisco, the second most car-free city in the western US, and 9th most in the country. About 1 in 3 households who rent were car-free, while only 5% of homeowners were car-free. Since 2017, the number of people in Seattle has grown, while the number of cars has stayed roughly the same.
In 2024, 81% of home heating systems installed in Seattle were heat pumps, as reported by the Office of Sustainability and Environment.
King County
Population in the County grew by 1.9% in 2024, the highest rate since 2015, according to the latest Census Report findings. Population numbers for 2023 were also revised upwards. King County’s population now stands at 2.34 million. Perhaps relatedly, median home prices in Seattle went up by 4%, and on the Eastside by 14.4% while other parts of the County had decreases.
Sound Transit
Trump Officials are Delaying Approval for the West Seattle Link. Federal Transit Administration (FTA) approval was expected in Feb., but will be delayed 30 to 60 days. This delay is separate from any decision to award FTA funding.
Sound Transit has picked a new CEO, but it is delaying an announcement on who they picked while they negotiate contract terms. The Board was considering 5 applicants, including Dow Constantine, the outgoing King County Executive, and 4 other unnamed applicants. Rumors are that they've picked Constantine. Pay is $450,000 to $650,000. There has been a lot of controversy over the secrecy shrouding the process, where candidates were not made public . Although Constantine has a lot of history as a Sound Transit Board Chair, he does not have experience leading a large transit system.
Puget Sound
The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency is creating a Comprehensive Climate Action Plan, which will guide regional efforts to significantly reduce climate pollution and create healthier, safer communities by reducing hazardous air pollution. They are seeking community input to "help inform how actions that reduce climate pollution within our neighborhoods can best be designed and implemented." See here for more information. Workshops will be held as follows:
Snohomish County: March 13, 2025 from 5:30p - 7:30 PM (doors open at 5), Everett Community College.
Kitsap County: March 20, 2025 from 5:30p - 7:30 PM (doors open at 5), Norm Dicks Government Center.
King County: April 3, 2025 from 5:30p - 7:30 PM (doors open at 5), El Centro De La Raza- Centilia Cultural Center, in Seattle, near the Beacon Hill Light Rail Station.
Pierce County: April 15, 2025 from 5:30p - 7:30 PM (doors open at 5), Clover Park Technical College.
The Puget Sound Regional Council is encouraging people to comment on a new project that would redirect funding from Metro to the SR-520 Rest of the West & bridge replacement and the Roanoke Lid. Under the new plan, $1,864,761 in funding from Metro's delayed Atlantic Base Trolley Power System Replacement would be transferred to help move the Portage Bay project forward. Comments are open through March 27.
State
The Legislative Session is now at the halfway point. Bills that have passed their "chamber of origin" (either House or Senate) are now be sent over to the opposite chamber to work their way through the same weeding out process: they must be approved by a policy committee, then if there are fiscal implications, by a fiscal committee, before going forward to the chamber floor for a vote. Bills that didn't pass in their chamber of origin will no longer be considered unless they are deemed necessary in order to implement the budget. So, here's where some of the climate and environmental bills stand now:
These bills need approval by a fiscal committee by April 8:
Including Riders on Transit Boards (HB 1418). Most transit systems in the state are overseen by a board made up of elected leaders from the cities and counties covered by a Public Transportation Benefit Area (PTBA). This bill would encourage those boards to include two members who are regular users of the transit system. The bill would also require meetings to be accessible by public transit. Lead by Disability Rights Washington.
Establishing Priorities for Intercity Passenger Rail (HB 1837). Establishes priority targets to increase the frequency and speed and improve the reliability of the Amtrak Cascades route between Seattle and Vancouver, BC and Portland, OR.Lead by Climate Rail Alliance.
Mosquito Fleet Act (HB 1923). Encourages passenger-only ferry initiatives in waterside communities, especially those underserved by Washington State Ferries.
Legalize Shared Streets (SB 5595). Allow cities to designate neighborhood streets where cars, bikes, and pedestrians share the same space, but speed limits are low and pedestrians are the priority.
Safe Streets for Active Transportation (SB 5581). Strengthens requirements for complete streets and shared use paths.
These bills need approval by a policy committee by April 2, and have been scheduled for a vote:
GMA Compliance (HB 1135). Closes a loophole that allows cities and counties to avoid compliance with new provisions of the Growth Management Act for housing affordability and climate change in local comprehensive plans. Lead by Futurewise.
Lot Splitting (HB 1096). Allow most lots to be split to allow starter homes. Lead by Signline Institute.
Transit-Oriented Development (HB 1491). Requires local zoning standards to allow greater density near transit across the state with some of it required to be affordable. There are different standards depending on distance from transit and type of transit. Near train stations the minimum zoning is higher and covers a greater area, but near bus rapid transit stations the minimum is lower and covers a smaller area. Lead by Futurewise.
Sewage Spills Right to Know (HB 1670). Lead by Environmental Priorities Coalition.
Reforming Parking Minimums (SB 5184). Caps the minimum parking requirements that cities and counties can require for developers. Parking mandates for construction require large chunks of land to be covered in asphalt instead of being used for more housing and more green space/trees. This bill sets limits on how much parking can be required, thus reducing the cost of building new housing. This bill had the support of both parties, and passed the Senate 40-8. Washington State Senate Approves Sweeping Parking Reform Bill (The Urbanist). Lead by Sightline Institute.
These bills need approval by a policy committee by April 2, and have public hearings scheduled:
Adjust Building codes for Sustainable and Affordable Housing (HB 1183). Requires a variety of tweaks to city building codes to make it easier to build affordable and sustainable housing and to retrofit buildings to be more sustainable. Lead by Sightline Institute.
Upgrade the Clean Fuels Program (HB 1409). Accelerates the carbon intensity reduction requirements for transportation fuels under the Clean Fuels Program (CFP) and establishes penalties and other enforcement powers specific to the CFP (more info here). Lead by Climate Solutions.
Hydrofluorocarbons (HB 1462). Reduces hydrofluorocarbon refrigerants that are potent greenhouse gases, promoting more climate-friendly alternatives and refrigerant recovery and reuse. Lead by Zero Waste Washington.
Monitoring PFAS in Biosolids (SB 5033). Calls for the state to measure the forever chemicals in wastewater treatment facilities that generate biosolids. Lead by Zero Waste Washington.
Recycling Reform Act (SB 5284). Creates a producer responsibility program to reduce unnecessary packaging and paper products. Specific incentives are built in to reduce plastic packaging. This bill will bring consistent and accessible recycling to all state residents. Lead by Zero Waste Washington.
Transmission Authority & Streamlined Transmission Upgrades (SB 5466). This bill requires the state to make a detailed roadmap for getting the transmission we need, creates a transmission authority to oversee the process, even building it when utilities won't, and streamlines permitting upgrades to existing transmission infrastructure. Lead by Climate Solutions.
GMA Housing Element (HB 5148). Strengthens the affordable housing provisions of the Growth Management Act.
Right to Repair Mobility Devices (SB 5680). Requires manufacturers of powered wheelchairs and similar devices to make repair information, parts and tools available to independent repair businesses and owners.
These bills need approval by a policy committee by April 2, and do not yet have public hearings scheduled:
Digital Right to Repair (HB 1483). Requires manufacturers of digital electronic products to make repair information, parts and tools available so small businesses can repair these items. Extending the life of computers, tablets and cellphones, and appliances reduces the burden on manufacturing new products – therefore also decreasing greenhouse gas emissions and mining. Companion bill to SB 5423, which is waiting to be scheduled for a floor vote in the Senate. Lead by Zero Waste Washington.
Encouraging the deployment of low carbon thermal energy networks (HB 1514). Thermal energy networks (TENs) are heating services provided by shared geothermal heat pumps, and they are a possible pathway for transitioning buildings off fossil gas while also transitioning the gas companies themselves. Lead by Sightline Institute.
Increasing Transmission Capacity (HB 1819). Increases transmission capacity on existing rights of way. Requires electric utilities with more than 25,000 customers to evaluate where reconductoring. Directs the UTC to allow an incentive rate of return on electric utility investments in reconductoring and grid-enhancing technologies (GETS) for 15 years and to adopt additional incentives to encourage increased deployment of transmission improvements. Lead by Climate Solutions.
And now, the Roll of the Fallen. These bills did not pass their chamber of origin before the cutoff. They will not be considered further this session:
Home Energy Score (HB 1015). This bill establishes a method for making energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions labeling of existing residential buildings available to homebuyers. Lead by People for Climate Action.
Legalizing Neighborhood Stores and Cafes (HB 1175). Requires cities to allow neighborhood stores and cafes in residential zones (think corner stores, mini markets, small neighborhood cafes). Lead by Sightline Institute.
Cumulative Risk Burden (CURB) Act (HB 1303). Addresses the disproportionate impact of new and existing pollution on overburdened communities. Led by Front & Centered.
Elsewhere
Bonneville Power announced plans to join Southwest energy market. "Bonneville Power Administration officials announced in a draft policy proposal released Wednesday that they intend to leave the California-controlled “real-time” market they’ve participated in since 2022 and join a new “day-ahead” energy market based out of Little Rock, Arkansas."
The U.S. power grid added more capacity from solar energy in 2024 than from any other source in a single year in more than two decades.