WHATCOM COUNTY, Wash. – The Whatcom County Council will hold a virtual public hearing Tuesday evening on another renewal of the Cherry Point moratorium.
The moratorium on exports of unrefined fossil fuels has been in place since 2016, and this extension would push the original 6-month emergency measure past the 4 year mark.
Member Kathy Kershner said at the council’s May 19th meeting that it should be dropped.
She said the moratorium gives an appearance of hostility toward business in light of the closure of the Alcoa Intalco Aluminum Smelter and loss of a proposed renewable fuels project.
Councilmember Rud Browne said it’s a finely focused moratorium that’s aimed at preventing the conversion of existing refineries into unrefined fossil fuel export facilities.
Comments can still be submitted by email and people who want to speak at the 6 p.m. meeting by phone or online must pre-register.