Bellingham to consider rules on government vehicle fuel
SAM TAYLOR - THE BELLINGHAM HERALD
June 5, 2010
BELLINGHAM - Oil that comes from a controversial mining project in Alberta, Canada, will be in the sights of City Council members again Monday, June 7.
Councilman Jack Weiss is offering up two pieces of legislation that address how the city purchases fuel for its fleet of government vehicles as well as shifting away from fossil fuels for normal business operations, specifically from the Alberta tar sands.
The tar sands are naturally occurring mixtures of sand or clay, water and a dense form of oil called bitumen. Processing the tar sands to extract the oil is laborious. The project, which covers hundreds of square miles, is the target of major criticism for its impact on the Alberta environment.
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Weiss had already said he intended to offer up the resolutions after he was the lone opposition vote to renewing a franchise agreement with Trans Mountain Pipeline over a 760-mile pipe from Edmonton, Alberta, to Anacortes. About four miles of the line run through Bellingham, with two in public rights of way.
The council approved a 10-year renewal with the company for $15,000, to the consternation of several environmental groups that argued the city should reject the renewal because some of the petroleum that runs through the line originates from tar sand oil.
For the resolution on the city's fleet fuel purchases, Weiss's proposal would require:
• Avoiding fuels with higher-than-normal greenhouse gas emissions.
• Avoiding fuels derived from sources that cause high environmental or social impacts.
• Giving preference to fuels with lower-than-average greenhouse gas emissions.
• Minimizing fuel purchases produced by refineries taking feedstock from Canada's tar sands.
IF YOU GO
What: Bellingham City Council members will consider resolutions that would attempt to reduce fossil fuel purchases for government business and vehicles, especially from the controversial Canada tar sands.
When: 7 p.m. Monday, June 7.
Where: City Council chambers, City Hall, 210 Lottie St.
Have your say: Contact City Council members at council@cob.org or call 778-8200.
Reach SAM TAYLOR at sam.taylor@bellinghamherald.com or call 715-2263. Read his Politics Blog at blogs.bellinghamherald.com/politics.
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2010/06/06/1463253/bellingham-to-conside...
