***CLICK ON THE TOPIC HEADER TO EXPAND THE DETAILS***
Local Level Actions
VOTE IN THE PRIMARY
Source: The RC
Description: Several local races have primary elections (county council districts 2 and 3, city council at-large, and port districts 1 and 2), top two candidates move to the general. The RC held a thorough, transparent, and as-fair-as-possible process for endorsing candidates. Want to know what we asked and how candidates responded? We posted our written questions, and all candidate responses unless the candidate requested otherwise. Happy Voting!
Ask PSE to go Coal-Free by 2025
Source: Sierra Club
Description: Help Puget Sound Energy (PSE) go coal-free by submitting a comment to the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission and PSE CEO Kimberly Harris asking that PSE retire the Colstrip Coal-fired power plant by 2025 and commit to 100% renewable and energy-efficient replacements with no new natural gas.
Background: While the majority of energy for PSE comes from hydroelectric dams, the utility that powers Whatcom County still gets about 32% of its electricity from coal-fired power plants. PSE is the primary owner of one of the largest remaining and dirtiest coal-fired power plants in the Western United States, the Colstrip Generating Facility in Colstrip, Montana. The facility is the 3rd-biggest polluter in the U.S. Your voice as a PSE ratepayer can make a difference over whether or not a highly polluting coal-fired facility continues to provide energy for Washington state homes and businesses, or if we move past this outdated fuel source to cleaner, smarter, and more innovative means of meeting our basic needs.
Contact Information: Contact Kimberly Harris through PSE or through Sierra Club’s comment form.
Suggested Script:
As a concerned Washington resident, I urge you to retire the Colstrip Coal-fired power plant by 2025 and commit to 100% renewable and energy-efficient replacements with no new natural gas.
We have a choice to make — dump hundreds of millions of dollars of our hard earned money into an outdated, out-of-state coal plant or invest that money right here in Washington and throughout the region building energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions that will create thousands of well-paying jobs, improve public health, and significantly cut carbon pollution.
All across the country, communities and utilities have declared that coal is too costly and risky for ratepayers, including Portland General Electric and TransAlta here in the Northwest. More than 200 coal plants are slated to retire. It is time to develop a plan to transition off coal and to invest in clean energy for the benefit of ratepayers, our local economy, and our children’s future.
Additional Information:
Seattle Times: Pressure Puget Sound Energy to abandon all coal
Sierra Club: Puget Sound Energy Negotiating Coal Contract Extension
Urge Legislators to Adopt a New Two-Year Capital Budget
Source: Re Sources for Sustainable Communities, Washington Conservation Voters
Description: Senate Republicans are blocking a vote on the capital budget to use it as leverage to overturn the State Supreme Court ruling on water rights.
Background: Several bills were proposed this legislative session to address the Supreme Court ruling (often referred to as the Hirst decision) that counties must ensure sufficient water availability before issuing building permits for new development in rural areas. Legislators could not come to a consensus, but Senate Republicans are holding up a vote on the capital budget to leverage support for their bill that would effectively overturn the ruling. There is roughly $340 million in funding at stake for green projects in the capital budget.
Contact Information:
40th District
42nd District
Suggested Script: I am a constituent from [city], and I am calling to ask [legislator name] to adopt a new, two-year capital budget to invest in creating jobs and protecting our environment. The capital budget should fund important projects and programs, including toxic cleanups, clean energy, salmon recovery, and floodplain restoration.
Additional Information:
Re Sources: Washington State Legislature funds grants for community education on toxic cleanups, but rest of environmental priorities a mixed bag
Seattle Times: Washington state construction budget held up in dispute over water rights
Ask Local Elected Officials to Sign on to the Climate Letter to Governor Inslee
Source: Washington Environmental Council
Description: Ask our local elected officials to sign on to a letter to Governor Inslee that: (1) thanks him for his leadership in the wake of the withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord; and (2) asks him to abide by several key principles in taking action to protect the climate. Bellingham City Council members April Barker, Terry Bornemann, Dan Hammill, Pinky Vargas, and Michael Lilliquist, and Whatcom County Council members Todd Donovan, Ken Mann, and Carl Weimer have already signed on, along with Port of Bellingham Commissioner Mike McAuley.
Background: In the wake of the decision to withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord, we must move forward and act locally. Washington Environmental Council is asking local elected officials to sign onto a letter to Governor Inslee to thank him for his leadership in the wake of the withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord. So far, 42 local officials signed up, but their goal is 125 signers. The letter also asks the Governor to abide by the following principles in taking action to protect the climate:
- Support the development of homegrown clean energy businesses that create good jobs in rural and urban communities
- Prioritize the protection of communities disproportionately harmed by carbon pollution and supporting fossil fuel workers in the transition to clean energy
- Transition from coal power to clean energy sources
- Provide consumers with affordable, cleaner, and more efficient fuel and energy choices
- Hold polluters responsible for the true price we all pay for carbon pollution in our economy
Contact Information:
City of Bellingham
- Mayor
- Email Roxanne Murphy and Gene Knutson to ask them to sign on. Note: April Barker, Terry Bornemann, Dan Hammill, Pinky Vargas, and Michael Lilliquist have already signed on to the letter.
Whatcom County
Suggested Script: President Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris Climate agreement threatens the health and safety of our communities. In the absence of national leadership, counties and cities within Washington state must take strong action to fight climate change. Please consider signing on to the Washington Environmental Council’s Climate Letter to Governor Inslee (https://wecprotects.org/climate-letter/) to thank the Governor for his leadership on climate action and ask him to abide by several key principles to ensure a just transition to a clean energy future.
Install the Amplify App
Source: The RC
Description: Help us reach our goal of 200 team members on Amplify!
Background: Why use Amplify? Elizabeth opened her big mouth and set a goal of 200 Amplify members by the END OF JULY. Help!
RC will deliver actions once per week and you will get a notification. Also, we will occasionally send a notification if there is an urgent request. No more searching through the Facebook feed! After you take the action, you click one of the response buttons – “left voicemail”, “talked to staffer”, “did it”, etc. – and then we get counts of how many people are taking the actions. These counts will be a powerful tool in working with elected officials, showing our strength in numbers. Amplify is developed by Indivisible San Francisco. There are no ads, no external content, just the RC.
Additional Information:
- Install the app for iPhone (http://apple.co/2o8cQAG) or Android (http://bit.ly/2neIpnw) (NOT currently available for tablets)
- Press ‘Create New Account’ to sign up
- Enter the Riveters Collective invite code: 045-857-672
- Take an action & cheer others on!
National Level Actions / Other
Call US Senators on Energy Bill and Healthcare
Source: Americans of Conscience Action Checklist
Description: We all like efficiency, so here’s a a way to make one call to each Senator and raise more than one issue.
Contact Information:
- Senator Patty Murray, WA (206) 553-5545, DC (202) 224-2621
- Senator Maria Cantwell, WA (206) 220-6400, DC (202) 224-3441
Suggested Script:
Hello, my name is {YOUR NAME}, and I am a constituent of Senator {Murray/Cantwell} from {HOMETOWN}. I’m calling today about a few issues.
- Please ask the senator to OPPOSE S. 1460, the massive energy bill being rushed through the Senate. It’s opposed by conservation, water, farming, and even industry groups because it increases our country’s dependence on fossil fuels. I want to see Sen. [name] oppose this outdated bill and focus on clean, renewable energy. How does Sen. [name] intend to vote?
- Regarding the Senate healthcare bill, it is outrageous that senators would exempt themselves from the same healthcare plan they plan to impose on the public. Not only is this unethical, but the optics are awful. I want Senator {Murray/Cantwell} to publicly oppose this exemption and strip it from the bill.
(If you find an existing public statement on this from Murray or Cantwell, please post in the comments!)
Additional Information:
Call US Rep on Healthcare and Voting Rights
Source: Americans of Conscience Action Checklist
Description: We all like efficiency, so here’s a a way to make one call to your rep and raise more than one issue.
Contact Information:
- Congressman Rick Larsen (WA 2nd Legislative District), WA 360-733-4500, DC (202) 225-2605
- Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA 1st Legislative District), WA (360) 416-7879, DC
Suggested Script:
- {DelBene} thank you working on a real plan to fix the ACA through Solutions over Politics.
- {Larsen} Please support House Democrats’ new efforts to fix the ACA. Republicans’ efforts to dismantle the ACA and constant changes are making insurance more expensive and the industry less stable. When can we expect Representative Larsen to sign on to this proposal?
(If you find an existing public statement on this from Larsen, please post in the comments!)
- Please support the bipartisan bill called the Voting Rights Amendment Act. It matters to me because the bill prevents racial discrimination and improves transparency. I would like Representative {DelBene/Larsen} to support voting rights and co-sponsor this bipartisan bill.
From the Calendar
Link to the Riveters Collective Calendar
Every Monday: Attend a vigil hosted by C2C and Keep Bellingham Families Working. A vigil will be held from 11:30a.m.-12:30p.m. in front of City Hall until Aug. 28, 2017 or from 5:00-6:00p.m. at the WTA downtown bus station. Support undocumented and immigrant families to live in safety and dignity in our community. Come together and join in building power in people!
Monday, July 17, 2017 from 6:30-8:30p.m.: Attend the Clean Energy Activist meeting facilitated by Alex Ramel, field director for Extreme Oil with Stand, at RE Sources for Sustainable Communities, 2309 Meridian St., Bellingham, WA 98225 from 6:30-7:30p.m.; and the Get Out the Vote Campaign Kickoff Event led by Karlee Deatherage and Krista Rome, clean water policy analyst and clean water organizer with RE Sources, from 7:30-8:30p.m. Visit Facebook for more information.
Monday, July 17, 2017 from 7:00-8:30p.m.: Join a presentation by Jon Humphrey on the public fiber infrastucture in Bellingham which could be used by smaller internet providers, therefore increasing competition, and giving the public more ownership and control over our internet. The event will be held at Localgroup Studio, 221 Prospect St, Bellingham, WA 98225. For learn more about the event, visit Facebook. To sign the petition, go to change.org.
Wednesday, July 19, 2017 from 4:30-6:00p.m.: Join the I’m Not a Racist: Blind Spots & Hidden Biases Workshop hosted by Whatcom Peace and Justice Center, 1220 Bay St., Bellingham, WA. The workshop will be facilitated by Kim Harris, a local professional diversity trainer. A donation of $10 per person is suggested. Register at whatcompjc.org. Visit Facebook to learn more about the event.
Thursday, July 20, 2017 from 8:30-10:00p.m.: Attend the Ask Me Anything (AMA) with Michael Shepard, candidate for the Port of Bellingham. The AMA will be held online on the Facebook Riveters Collective page.