We promote volunteerism, interagency collaboration, and creative enforcement solutions to bring about positive solutions to environmental concerns that cannot be solved by a regulatory approach. Below are some are some of our voluntary programs and activities.
Climate Change
Climate Action Northwest (CAN) - The agency developed the CAN program in 2009 to maximize strategic partnerships and collaborations, minimizes duplication and meet and build upon the State’s mandate.
We sponsor outcome-driven regional meetings with key stakeholders throughout our jurisdiction to create a multi-jurisdictional collaboration that will allow us all to pool resources, maximize efforts, and position ourselves for potential funding opportunities.
An outcome of the CAN was The Power of Cost-Effective Energy Practices conference that focused on helping our regional municipalities. The conference materials are listed below:
- Accelerating Investments in Energy Efficiency: Dan Clarkson, EE Finance Corporation
- Performance Contracting Support for Local Communities: Stuart Simpson, Washington State Office of General Administration
- Whatcom Energy Efficiency Community Challenge: Derek Long, Executive Director, Sustainable Connections and Energy Efficiency and Job Creation: Shawn Collins, Building Performance Center of Whatcom County
- Cities & Towns - How to save money while incorporating energy efficiency into planning efforts. Nancy Conard, Mayor, Town of Coupeville; Mark Asmundson, Former Mayor of Bellingham; and Ryan Walters, Skagit County Sustainability Administrator -
- Public attitudes regarding energy efficiency: Cara Pike, The Social Capital Project
Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Mitigation Funding - The Northwest Clean Air Agency expects to receive around $3.5 million around the middle of 2013 to fund projects that will significantly reduce GHG emissions.
Funding is estimated to be available the middle of 2013.
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Diesel Exhaust
Diesel exhaust contains toxic compounds which can cause respiratory disease, including cancer, in the general population. The Washington State Legislature recognized that children riding school buses were especially susceptible to the harmful effects of diesel exhaust. As a result, they authorized funding to clean-up the buses. All the school districts in the NWCAA jurisdiction are participating in the diesel exhaust clean-up program. To date, 163 of our local school buses have been retrofitted with add-on control devices that reduce diesel particle emissions by 30-40%. Recently, legislative action expanded the program to include funding for retrofits of publicly owned diesel equipment as well.
The NWCAA is also partnering with other air pollution agencies to fund a study on the use of ultra low sulfur diesel on ferries. This study will help the ferry system decide if a switch to ULSD for the entire fleet makes environmental, economic, and operational sense.
TRANSBOUNDARY ISSUES
The northern boundary of the NWCAA jurisdiction borders with Canada, which poses special challenges when dealing with air pollution. The NWCAA is partnering with Canadian and other US agencies to develop strategies to deal with transboundary air pollution. Studies have shown that pollutants generated by activities in western Washington and Canada can have far reaching effects.
The Georgia Basin Puget Sound International Airshed Strategy (GBPSIAS) Committee was formed in 2001 to develop cooperative working relationships amongst the air quality agencies of western Washington and southern British Columbia. The Committee meets on a regular basis to share challenges and progress in promoting good air quality for all citizens in the Airshed. The participants have established workgroups that are charged with addressing key environmental concerns. The workgroups are agriculture, clean vehicles and fuels, marine vessels and port emission reductions, residential wood heating, review of major sources, coordinated transboundary science and data, and communications and outreach. The NWCAA participates in all of the workgroups.
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