[Vision2020] Bellingham, Wa. City Council Passes Resolution Jun. 2010: "Whereas... Canada's Tar Sands Generates Three Times More Global Warming Pollution..."

[Ted Moffett]

NASA climate scientist James Hansen, in his acceptance speech for the 2010
Sophie Prize:
http://www.sofieprisen.no/Articles/514.html

"But our governments have no intention of solving the fossil fuel and
climate problem, as is easy to prove: the United States, Canadian and
Norwegian governments are going right ahead developing the tar sands,
which, if it is not halted, will make it impossible to stabilize
climate. Our governments knowingly abdicate responsibility for young
people and future generations

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Those who think Moscow is dominated by progressive environmentalists should
consider how a city council that is truly environmental in philosophy
might respond to the Canada tar sands bound mega-loads passing through their
city limits.  Even if a resolution such as the following from Bellingham,
Washington has little impact on actually stopping tar sands development, it
sends a message to the community regarding the seriousness of the problem of
tar sands development impacts on climate change, and that even those
operating on the level of city government should address the issue and
accept responsibility:

Draft of Bellingham resolution specifically against Canada tar sands oil:

http://www.cob.org/web/COUNCIL.nsf/0/CC4D3E2B2B770E4B882577370074AF88/$File/07jun2010_AB18877.pdf?OpenElement

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*City of Bellingham steers away from tar sands oil*

http://bbjtoday.com/blog/city-bellingham-steers-tar-sands-oil/7594#

by Ryan Wynne <http://bbjtoday.com/blog/author/ryanwynne/>
Filed on 09. Jun, 2010 in News <http://bbjtoday.com/blog/category/news>

*By Ryan Wynne*

The Bellingham City Council passed two resolutions Monday intended to gently
steer the city away from using tar sands oil. The resolutions were passed
just weeks after council renewed a 10-year franchise agreement with Trans
Mountain Pipeline, which transports some of the controversial oil in a
pipeline running through Bellingham.

Tar sands oil is seen as controversial due to environmental effects that
result from mining and processing it, and before council voted to approve
the franchise agreement, community members spent three council meetings
urging them not to renew.

So, on Monday, councilmen were met with applause when they unanimously
approved a resolution promoting energy alternatives to fossil fuels, in
particular high carbon fuels such as those derived from Canadian tar sands
sources.

Council was met with less visible audience enthusiasm just minutes later
when it unanimously passed a resolution that could affect the city’s next
fleet vehicle fuel supply contract. That resolution would give preference to
refiners that don’t use tar sands oil.

While the first fossil fuel resolution was passed with very little
discussion, the second raised some concerns.

Councilmen Terry Bornemann said the measure seemed sudden considering the
fleet fuel contract won’t be up for renewal until 2014. Bornemann said that
would give them plenty of time to get feedback from city staff and that
council should wait for that feedback.

“It’s not for another five years,” Bornemann said. “I don’t understand the
rush.”

But Councilman Michael Lilliquist said the resolution only sets forth goals,
not restrictions. It is a commitment to look in another direction, he said.

Councilman Barry Buchanan said he was concerned with potential costs to the
city that could result from avoiding tar sands fuels.

Councilman Jack Weiss responded that economic costs shouldn’t be the only
ones considered; environmental and social implications should also be
weighed.

To allay concerns, Councilman Seth Fleetwood recommended adding the phrase
“where such effort is reasonably feasible” to the resolution, which was
enough to convince all seven councilmen to approve the resolution.

Next time the city considers fuel contracts for Bellingham fleet vehicles,
“where such effort is reasonably feasible,” fuels with higher than normal
greenhouse gas footprints will be avoided, those with higher than average
environmental or social impacts will be avoided, fuels produced by
refineries taking feedstock from Canada’s tar sands will be minimized, and
preference will be given to fuels with lower than normal greenhouse gas
footprints.
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Vision2020 Post: Ted Moffett
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