Washington state’s Department of Ecology says the magnitude of threats from climate change are so severe, it needs to set limits on air pollution. The agency released an updated rule to cap carbon emissions that it says will be more effective than the draft Clean Air Rule it released in February. But the rewrite is controversial.
Using a new satellite-based method, scientists at NASA, Environment and Climate Change Canada, and two universities have located 39 unreported and major human-made sources of toxic sulfur dioxide emissions.
Production is back to normal a day after a small fire broke out at the BP Cherry Point refinery near Ferndale.
After withdrawing an earlier proposal, Gov. Jay Inslee’s administration is pushing ahead with a revised Clean Air Rule that would cut greenhouse- gas emissions in Washington but give some concessions to industry.
The rule would initially apply to about two dozen oil refineries, including the BP Cherry Point and Phillips 66 refineries here in Whatcom County, power plants and other facilities that release at least 100,000 metric tons of carbon a year.
The three-day Break Free PNW protest wrapped up Sunday with a tally of 52 arrests, one successful water rescue and no injuries, authorities said.
Police presence
Authorities cleared the railroad tracks of protesters and arrested 52 climate activists Sunday morning in Washington state, after a two-day shutdown.
The three-day event is one of dozens being held throughout the world this month to urge a transition from fossil fuels to clean energy in order to combat climate change.
Recent forest fires are yet another reminder of the effects of climate change and the need to reduce greenhouse gases through, among other steps, better transportation systems.
Demonstrators gathered in Anacortes Saturday morning for the second day of protests.
