Seattle/King County Climate News
Robin Briggs
Seattle
City Council has passed the budget (Publicola). Climate spending was down overall, and the budget failed to address the large structural deficits in future years caused by one-time funds used to pay for ongoing expenses. This will be a big issue for the incoming mayor and for the city.
Mayor-elect Katie Wilson has appointed leaders for the transition team (Seattle Times, paywall), including people who are experienced in Seattle government, as well as people with experience in political organizing. "The five leaders — director Andrés Mantilla and co-chairs Brian Surratt, Tiffani McCoy, Karen Estevenin and Quynh Pham — include a progressive organizer for publicly owned housing, the first labor figure to back Wilson’s candidacy, an advocate for Little Saigon in the Chinatown International District, and two political alums of past mayoral administrations." Seattle Nice recently interviewed Mayor-elect Wilson on her immediate plans.
King County
The new Executive Girmay Zahilay has fired 100 of 133 executive-appointed commisions (Publicola). Some turnover was to be expected, but this looks like a break with the old order. A list of the positions affected was not available, so there's no way to know whether the director or other people in the Climate Office were laid off, but a job interest form on Zahilay's campaign website includes "Climate/Environment".
Sound Transit
Sound Transit is looking for ways to save money after cost estimates for the West Seattle and Ballard links lines went up. Currently on the chopping block: two infill stations (The Urbanist), Graham St. in South Seattle and Boeing Access Road in Tukwila where costs are high compared to Pinehurst Station at 130th between Northgate and Shoreline which is further along and cheaper. Further, the Avalon Station on the West Seattle line may also be shelved.
State
A leak in the Olympic Pipeline is causing major disruption in delivery of gasoline and jet fuel in Washington and Oregon (Seattle Times, paywall). Both states have issued emergency declarations to insure fuel delivery by other alternatives (e.g., truck or barge). Airlines are responding by having incoming flights come in more fully fueled, and in rarer cases, by making additional fueling stops. Both of these alternatives push up emissions, and are likely to also push up prices at the pump. In related news, the State just handed down a $3.8M fine for a leak in the same pipeline in 2023. The pipeline operators were negligent by using materials that degrade in the presence of fuel.
The Washington State Climate Office reported that September 2025 was the warmest September in the state since at least 1895 (Bluesky). Temperatures were +5.2ºF above normal statewide for the month.
Elsewhere
Two LNG export facilities are being planned in British Columbia in Squamish and Delta (Vancouver Sun). Together, these two projects would increase production from 100,000 tons per year to 6 million in order to export 60 times as much LNG as they do now. To serve these new export facilities, we would get about 200 more tankers per year in the Salish Sea.
Amtrak Breaks Ridership Records Nationally and in Pacific Northwest (The Urbanist). Amtrak ridership hit record highs, up overall by 5% nationwide since last year, and up 1.4% for Amtrak Cascades west coast service. Amtrak also did well in ticket sales, with a 10.4% increase over last year. Locally, Amtrak has invested in new trains which have high maximum speeds, but the tracks have to be upgraded to take full advantage of that.
London is raising the price of its congestion zone by 20% (The Guardian); vehicles will start paying from £15-18 per day to drive in central London. For the first time, EVs will have to pay as well, although they will get a discounted rate. The goal is to reduce traffic congestion; "the mayor, Sadiq Khan, said that without the shake-up, another 2,200 vehicles would be driving in the zone on an average weekday."