The Earth Ministry/WAIPL community joined with over 75 groups and 4600 individuals who submitted supportive written comment for updating Washington’s building codes for new residential buildings.
Category: Fracked Gas News
Washington passes most climate-friendly building codes in the nation
Washington celebrated an exciting win this Earth Day when the Washington Building Codes Council passed groundbreaking building codes for new commercial and large multi-family buildings! Starting July 2023, new commercial and multi-family residential buildings will be required to be built with high-efficiency electric heat pumps for water and space heating.
WA Building Electrification Codes
Continued dependence on polluting fossil fuels, especially fracked gas, is not faithful. Join us in supporting an energy code that requires electric heat pump technology for water and space heating in commercial and multifamily buildings. Add your name to Earth Ministry/WAIPL’s clean buildings faith community letter to the Washington State Building Code Council!
Fall-Winter 2021 Earth Letter
The latest issue of our publication Earth Letter is here! Join Earth Ministry/WAIPL staff and community members as we reflect on our collective successes and continued resistance to fossil fuels.
Puyallup Tribe and Community Organizations Challenge Decision Allowing Dangerous Tacoma LNG Facility to Operate
The Puyallup Tribe of Indians and several community and environmental organizations are appealing the WA Pollution Control Hearings Board’s November decision to uphold Puget Sound Energy’s Tacoma LNG facility’s clean air permit in Pierce County Superior Court. The Puyallup Tribal Council said in a statement. “We were put here to protect these lands and waters and that is what we will continue to do. We will continue the fight. Too much is at stake.”
Tacoma LNG Appeal Denied
People of faith have been in a prayerful stance of solidarity supporting the Puyallup Tribe and co-litigants' appeal of PSE's immoral project. We are incredibly disappointed that the PCHB failed to make the right decision to uphold the Tribe’s request for further review of this dirty and dangerous fracked gas facility.
Tacoma City Council Passes Non-Interim Land Use Regulations
After four years of renewing temporary protections every six months, in November the Tacoma City Council passed long-term Non-Interim Regulations that ensure that no new fossil fuel facilities can be built on the Tideflats. Though not as strong as we wanted, it is a win that existing fossil fuel infrastructure cannot expand unless it’s part of a “Cleaner Fuels” blend, and even then expansion is limited. We look forward to continuing to engage on this issue in new ways through the Tacoma Tideflats Subarea Plan. Many thanks to the faith community and activists in Tacoma for advocating for strong protections for multiple years.
PSE Found Guilty by the People
Earth Ministry/WAIPL's Program & Outreach Director Jessica Zimmerle spoke at a March 24 Zoom press conference hosted by the Power Past Fracked Gas Coalition and Earthjustice. The Puyallup Tribe of Indians and several environmental organizations have appealed Tacoma LNG's clean air permit and appeal hearings begin Monday, April 12.
Recording: Interfaith Advocacy Success Stories: Stopping Fossil Fuel Projects
This recorded workshop featuring Earth Ministry/WAIPL staff and Temple De Hirsch Sinai's Rabbi Avi Fine, presents case studies of successful interfaith collaboration to stop climate-wrecking fossil fuel megaprojects.
Attorney General’s Support Means Hope for the Future in Dark Times
Read this reflection by Dakota Case, Puyallup tribal member and Water Warrior, originally published by our friends at Native Daily Network on January 27, 2021.
Kalama Methanol Permits Denied
The Washington Department of Ecology has denied Northwest Innovation Works' shorelines permit for the Kalama Methanol plant.
WA AG Filed Amicus Brief in Support of Lawsuit Challenging the Tacoma LNG Facility
WA Attorney General Bob Ferguson submitted an amicus brief to the WA Pollution Control Hearings Board in support of the Puyallup Tribe's and environmental partners' lawsuit against Tacoma LNG.
Why the Kalama methanol refinery would hurt the Yakama tribe
Crosscut published this op-ed by Yakama Nation member Emily Washines on December 31, 2020.
Earth Ministry’s 2020 Recap
Thank you to everyone who attended Earth Ministry’s Year-End Gathering! If you were not able to join us, here is a written version of Earth Ministry’s year-in-review presentation.
Kalama Methanol Legal Win
A federal district court rejected the project’s federal permits, sending it back to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for a full and transparent environmental review!