What each jurisdiction is doing about climate change

News

Seattle

The Office of Economic Development released the Fossil Fuel Workforce Study. Presentation to the Community and Economic Development Committee expected in May.

The Federal Transit Administration has allocated $59.9M in funding from the Small Starts Program to Rapid Ride G (Madison Ave.) for construction. These funds cover 45% of the total cost, with the balance supplied by the Move Seattle levy and the Capital Improvement Program agreements with Sound Transit. Once the funds are transferred, construction is expected to begin this fall for completion in 2024. A map of the route is on the below:

Map is courtesy of SDOT Blog

King County


The Growth Management Planning Council (GMPC) released two reports for public comment. The Urban Growth Capacity Report details how much growth has happened since the start of the planning cycle, and how much more capacity for growth remains in this planning cycle. The other is a Public Review Draft of the Comprehensive Plan which specifies things like new areas possibly to be added to Urban Growth Boundaries, and how much growth is projected over the next planning cycle and allocated to each locality. This report is available for public comment until May 5. Both reports are expected to be on the agenda for the GMPC meeting on May 26 , 4-6pm.


Metro is finalizing the restructure coming in September for the opening of the north end Link extension to Northgate on October 2. Although the Link will provide high occupancy, service hours overall will be cut relative to 2019, so many places will actually have reduced bus service. Metro has prioritized serving the high demand neighborhoods of the south end during the pandemic, and recovery to previous levels will be done slowly over during the course of 2021 and 2022. Peak time bus service will also not be restored fully, as Metro waits to see what demand is as employers go back to work, but may have more work from home than previously.


The Mobility and Environment Committee will continue to review the Strategic Climate Action Plan with the goal of advancing out of committee by Earth Day. Key parts, including transportation, are still awaiting review, and councilmembers are considering amendments. There is strong community pressure to include emissions and pollution from the airports when doing GHG inventory and considering policy.

Timeline

Seattle

  • April 6 5-7pm – Move Seattle Levy Oversight Committee

  • April 7 9:30am– Transportation and Utilities Committee – $20 VLF Spending Plan (expected - not yet on official agenda)

  • April 20, 2pm, Community Economic Development Committee presentation on fossil free workforce study from the Office of Economic Development

  • April 27, Sustainability & Renter's Rights Committee: Electrifying Seattle's Infrastructure (Matt Remle, Jess Wallach, Kelly Hall) (expected - not yet on official agenda)

  • Feb-April – City Light Integrated Resource Plan review of inputs/policy choices

  • May – City Light Integrated Resource Plan review resource needs & CETA targets

  • July - Sept. – City Light Integrated Resource Plan resource targets & CETA plan

  • Nov. 2021 - March 2022 – City Light review Clean Energy Action Plan

  • Nov 2021 – Election for Mayor & at-large council seats

  • April/May 2022 – City Light Integrated Resource Plan legislation

  • Fall 2022 – Redistricting

  • Fall 2023 – Election for Positions 1-7



King County

  • EV Code proposed update in Local Services Committee. Initial briefing done, next meeting not yet scheduled. New code would apply to commercial and multi-family buildings in unincorporated King County.

  • Late July 2021, Metro planning update. Draft versions of the Strategic Plan for Public Transportation (Metro's goals, strategies, and performance measures), Service Guidelines (sets targets, evaluate performance, add/remove service), Metro Connects (long-range plan, with goal to increase service hours by 70% between 2015 and 2040) will be referred to the Regional Transit Committee, and to King County Council.

  • Commercial Building Energy Code update. Public review in Feb, present to Council around 4/30. The proposed codes are open for public review from February 3 (anticipated) through March 3.

  • County is soliciting feedback on it's C-PACER program, currently under development

  • Regional Transit Committee work plan includes:

  • Jan-April, prepare for planning update (see above);

  • June-July, review Metro's post-pandemic recovery plan;

  • Aug.-Dec. review the updated policy documents (see above again).

  • Mobility and Environment work plan includes:

  • Feb update Metro's Income-Based Fare Program;

  • Jan-March, midpoint update for 2016 KC Comprehensive Plan and Skyway West Hill Community Services Area Subarea Plan;

  • Jan-March, Metro Mobility Framework and Strategic Plan for Public Transportation updates;

  • Jan-April, hearings on Strategic Climate Action Plan. Aiming to have plan approval in committee by Earth Day.

  • Sept, Zero Emission Battery Bus Preliminary Implementation Plan.

Other possible items as well, not yet scheduled, see here.


Puget Sound Regional Council

Sound Transit

State

See Legislative Session 2021 for information about individual bills.

Cut-off dates for bills in the session

House of Origin

  • Policy Committee – Feb. 15

  • Fiscal Committee – Feb. 22

  • Rules Committee

  • Floor – March 9

Second House

  • Policy Committee – March 26

  • Fiscal Committee – April 2

  • Rules Committee

  • Floor – April 11

Actions This Year

  • Seattle passed 2021 Energy Codes for commercial and multi-family buildings, requiring increased efficiency, as well as efficient electrical space and water heating

  • Seattle Public School board passed the 100% Clean Energy by 2040 Resolution

Policies at Every Level

Useful Links

  • GHG Reduction Potential from Local Policies, an analysis from UC Berkeley's CoolClimate Network on what impact policies implemented by local governments can have on reducing GHG emissions. There is a website with modelling for over 700 different cities and counties in California, and a paper that describes in high level terms how the model is put together. Below are results for Berkeley, CA: