By Katie F. Cote, AICP on Posted in Development,Land UseOn March 22, 2012 President Obama issued Executive Order 13604 calling for improvements to federal permitting and review processes for infrastructure projects. The memorandum recognizes the U.S. must have “fast, reliable, resilient, and environmentally sound means of moving people, goods, energy, and information” to maintain the Nation’s competitive edge. The Order creates a framework for … Continue Reading
By Katie F. Cote, AICP on Posted in Energy Efficiency/SustainabilityCongressmen David McKinley (R-WV) and Peter Welch (D-VT) introduced H.R. 4230, the “Home Owner Managing Energy Savings Act” (HOMES Act). H.R. 4230 would provide rebates to homeowners who invest in energy efficiency improvements. Under the bill, a homeowner who achieves 20 percent energy savings will receive a $2,000 rebate and for every 5 percent in … Continue Reading
By Katie F. Cote, AICP on Posted in Energy Efficiency/SustainabilityThe measure makes electricity produced from older biomass facilities, such as pulp mills, eligible for the state’s renewable energy mandate. Passed in 2006, I-937 requires nearly a third of the state’s utilities, those with at least 25,000 customers, to build toward getting 15 percent of their power from wind, solar, geothermal and certain woody biomass by … Continue Reading
By Duncan M. Greene on Posted in DevelopmentMarch 15, 2012, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) published an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) requesting public comment on potential improvements to its Endangered Species Act (ESA) implementing regulations, policies, and guidance to better recognize voluntary conservation actions that benefit species. Specifically, FWS has concluded that the present ESA regulations, guidance, implementing … Continue Reading
By T.C. Richmond on Posted in UncategorizedOn March 7, 2012, Governor Gregoire signed E2SSB 5292, which amends the definition of critical areas under the GMA to exclude certain irrigation and drainage structures that lie within and are maintained by a port district, or an irrigation district or company. The amendment to the definition of critical areas in RCW 36.70A.030 has an effective … Continue Reading
By Tadas A. Kisielius on Posted in Growth Management Act,Land Use,MunicipalLast week, the Washington State Supreme Court ruled in Stafne v. Snohomish County, reversing a lower appellate court decision that had caused consternation among local jurisdictions throughout the state. The case clarifies the ability of a party to appeal a local jurisdiction’s decision to reject a privately-initiated proposal to amend a comprehensive plan amendment as … Continue Reading
By Brent Carson on Posted in Development,Environmental,Land Use,MunicipalKing County’s long developing program to accept cash payments for projects in need of wetland mitigation is expected to be formally approved by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers next week. Under this program, King County takes on the obligation to build acceptable wetland mitigation and the Corps relieves the party filling the wetland and … Continue Reading
By T.C. Richmond on Posted in Climate Change,Development,Energy Efficiency/SustainabilityA comprehensive new report by the U.S. Green Building Council and University of Michigan’s Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning evaluates research on the likely impacts of climate change on the built environment, and identifies strategies for adapting to those impacts while upholding sustainable design principles. Among other things, the report notes that most buildings … Continue Reading
