WWU study focuses on urban transitions
Posted on 04. Mar, 2010 by Isaac Bonnell in News
The Bellingham Business Journal
Western Washington University’s Urban Transitions Studio will present sustainable urban planning concepts from 7-10 p.m. on Wednesday, March 10 in the Bellingham City Hall.
The presentation, which is free and open to the public, will include a concept proposal for revitalizing downtown Bellingham’s retail core and a proposal for transitioning single-use retail zones [...]
Green building program offers faster permit review
Posted on 03. Mar, 2010 by Isaac Bonnell in News
The Bellingham Business Journal
The City of Bellingham’s permit center launched a seven-month pilot program in March to encourage and support green building projects by reducing building permit review time for certified green projects and assigning them to a new green project review team.
“The City is committed to promoting sustainability by supporting projects that conserve resources [...]
Bellingham awarded Climate Showcase grant
Posted on 02. Mar, 2010 by Isaac Bonnell in News
The Bellingham Business Journal
Bellingham is one of the first cities in the nation to be awarded a $350,000 grant by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a Climate Showcase Community.
These grants are designed to assist communities to establish and implement climate change initiatives to help reduce carbon emissions. Of 450 applications from around the country, [...]
Leadership Whatcom focuses on economic development
Posted on 19. Feb, 2010 by Lance Henderson in News
The Bellingham Business Journal
“Regional Economic Development: Shared Assets and Common Concerns” will be the focus of the next Productive Public Conversation (PPC) on March 18, a free civil dialogue training designed by alumni of the Leadership Whatcom 10-month Community Leadership Program.
Leadership Whatcom’s PPCs provide nonpartisan civil dialogue trainings focusing on difficult community issues. The three-hour [...]
2010: Many businesses must report greenhouse gas emissions
Posted on 04. Jan, 2010 by Isaac Bonnell in News
By Isaac Bonnell
Starting this year, many mid- to large-sized businesses in Washington state will have to report their greenhouse gas emissions to the state Department of Ecology.
The reporting rule is part of the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Bill that was passed by the state legislature in 2008. The bill aims to determine the level of emissions [...]
Energy challenge gets $500,000 credit enhancement
Posted on 24. Dec, 2009 by Lance Henderson in News
The Bellingham Business Journal
The city of Bellingham and the Opportunity Council have been awarded $500,000 for energy efficiency credit enhancement through the Washington State Energy Program and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. These funds will be combined with existing commitments of $750,000 to seed a loan program for energy efficiency projects as part of [...]
COB, SConnect working on green building incentives
Posted on 17. Dec, 2009 by Lance Henderson in Opinions
By Nick Hartrich, Green Building and Smart Growth program manager for Sustainable Connections
The city of Bellingham – a community praised for its successes as a leader in sustainability – was recently recognized as the No. 1 Smartest Small City in the Nation by the National Resources Defense Council for our achievements in green space, transportation, [...]
Local nonprofits get $2.7 million energy grant
Posted on 04. Nov, 2009 by Lance Henderson in News
The Bellingham Business Journal
Opportunity Council, in partnership with Sustainable Connections, has received a $2.7 million grant through the U.S. State Department of Energy and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to help local homeowners and businesses save energy costs.
The Community Energy Challenge, a two-year pilot program slated to launch in January 2010, is designed to [...]
Lynden digester will also heat greenhouses
Posted on 14. Oct, 2009 by Isaac Bonnell in News
By Isaac Bonnell
Just six weeks after opening its first manure digester in Skagit County, the Mount Vernon-based company Farm Power is well on its way to opening a second facility, this time in Lynden.
The manure digester, which will cost upwards of $4 million to build, recently received more than $1.5 million in state and federal [...]
Chamber announces two award winners
Posted on 02. Oct, 2009 by Lance Henderson in News
The Bellingham Business Journal
The Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce & Industry has announced the 2009 winners for Green Business and Non-Profit of the Year awards. The 2009 Non-Profit of the Year is the Womencare Shelter and the 2009 Green Business of the Year is Earth First Lawn Care.
Womencare Shelter was established in 1979 to provide safe, [...]
