Dems sweep Whatcom County Council races

[eridani]

http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2013/11/06/2897641/western-voters-fossil-fuels/
Fossil fuels took a licking in local elections in Colorado and Washington on Tuesday, as voters resoundingly said no to oil and gas fracking and coal exports.

In Washington state, the four progressive candidates for seats on the Whatcom County Council that will likely decide the fate of a controversial coal export terminal proposal were running well ahead Tuesday night. Incumbents Ken Mann and Carl Weimer, and challengers Rud Browne and Barry Buchanan were all backed by opponents of the coal terminal, including Washington Conservation Voters which spent nearly $300,000 on the progressive candidates’ campaigns.

Because the county council will vote in a quasi-judicial capacity on permits for the proposed terminal, candidates could not explicitly express their views on the facility that would have a capacity of exporting about 48 million tons of coal per year to Asia. The coal would originate in the Powder River Basin region of Wyoming and Montana. The proposed terminal near Bellingham, Washington, is one of three still being planned in Oregon and Washington.

[freeplessinseattle]

1. No way, no how, so glad sense prevailed in my "homeland"

I spent my HS (which boasts notorious alumnus Glenn Beck) and college years there, and think if it wasn't for the presence of the university Whatcom County would lean more towards the right.

This is probably an issue that strikes a chord with a lot of residents though. If they've been paying attention.

[eridani]

2. Nice article from Yes! magazine

How the Voters of One Small County May Have Stopped 48 Million Tons of Coal

http://readersupportednews.org/news-section2/312-16/20305-how-the-voters-of-one-small-county-may-have-stopped-48-million-tons-of-coal

Opponents of a plan to ship millions of tons of coal through the Pacific Northwest appear headed for victory in the Whatcom County Council election, after a race that saw more than $1 million in campaign funds pour into the small, rural county race from both environmental and industry groups as well as the candidates' own fundraising efforts.

Coal companies and terminal developers are hoping to ship 48 million tons of coal per year through Washington state via the proposed Gateway Pacific Terminal at Cherry Point. The Whatcom County Council race emerged as a focal point for opposition to the terminal because the council is in charge of permits for the project, which is currently under environmental review.

In an article cross-posted to Grist, Eric de Place and Clark Williams-Derry of Sightline Institute wrote that "burning the 48 million tons of coal proposed for export at the terminal annually would release roughly 100 million tons of carbon dioxide, a staggering figure that amounts to as much carbon pollution as every activity in the state of Washington combined."

"Outside money and outside interests really tried to impact and influence this election," said Crina Hoyer, executive director of RE Sources for Sustainable Communities, a Bellingham-based environmental education organization. "The fact that our community couldn't be bought is spectacular."

[pscot]

3. Great news