Tacoma is particularly vulnerable to fossil fuel expansion due to its existing infrastructure and deep water port on Commencement Bay. The industrial Tideflats area is seen by fossil fuel companies as prime real estate for their toxic projects, such as Puget Sound Energy’s LNG terminal. But big industry doesn’t get the final word. Tacoma is rising up to discuss the future of the Tideflats.
In 2017, the Tacoma City Council adopted a resolution initiating a subarea plan, a comprehensive process that will determine what type of industry may be located in the port. Thanks to community input, the City Council passed an interim regulation to pause new fossil fuel and heavy industrial use on the Tideflats while the subarea planning process is underway.
This important interim regulation on fossil fuels will expire unless extended by the City Council every six months thereafter. We need your help to tell the City Council why it is crucial to extend and strengthen these regulations until the city has a long-term plan!