North Olympic Peninsula governmental entities must report by July 1 on how well they are satisfying the state goal of 100 percent usage of alternatives to fossil fuel in their vehicles.
The state law requires governmental entities to eventually transition to vehicles entirely operated on electricity or biofuels.
Local governments in Washington state that annually use more than 200,000 gallons of gasoline or diesel to power vehicles “are required to satisfy one hundred percent of their fuel usage for operating publicly owned vessels,vehicles and construction equipment from electricity or biofuel” by June 1, according to RCW 43.19.648 and Washington Administrative Code rules that implement the regulations.
The governments must take the step “to the extent determined practicable by the rules adopted by the Department of Commerce” and report annually on their progress to assess compliance with the law.
Jefferson Transit is already compliant, said General Manager Tammi Rubert. It uses biofuel in all 50 of its vehicles except for a couple of service vehicles that will be replaced with ones that run on alternative fuel, she added.
Port of Port Angeles officials and Clallam County’s administrator and Jefferson County’s director of central services said they see the law as a reporting requirement to show the city and county are taking steps toward that end rather than an absolute edict that they eliminate use of fossil fuels by a date certain.
The Port of Port Angeles will delay powering its vehicles with electricity or biofuels until the transition becomes more feasible, commissioners decided at their Tuesday meeting.
“The fiscal impact will be determined on an annual basis in connection with the budgeting process,” according to a staff report.
Mark McCauley, Jefferson County director of central services, said Wednesday the county is exempt because it consumes under the 200,000-gallon threshold. However, the county continues to pursue the goal.
“We will make steady progress on that front,” he said.
McCauley said Jefferson County has a number of hybrid vehicles, including Priuses and Ford Fusions, and that many diesel vehicles use 20 percent biodiesel.
James Burke, acting Port Angeles Public Works director, said that the city has not yet transitioned to non-fossil fuels for its fleet of about 220 vehicles.
“We have started discussions with the City Council on how to make that work,” he said.
“Practicable” or “practicability” means the extent to which alternative fuels and vehicle technologies can be used to displace gasoline and diesel fuel in vehicles, as determined by multiple dynamic factors including cost and availability of fuels and vehicles, changes in fueling infrastructure, operations, maintenance, technical feasibility, implementation costs, and other factors,” according to the WAC.
“’Biofuel’ means a liquid or gaseous fuel derived from organic matter intended for use as a transportation fuel, including, but not limited to, biodiesel, renewable diesel, ethanol, renewable natural gas, and renewable propane.”
Clallam Transit now has over 20 vehicles running on propane out of a fleet of about 100 vehicles, said General Manager Kevin Gallacci.
Gallacci, who served on the statewide rules committee for this measure, said the transition is an ongoing process, with replacement of vehicles to be electrical or biofuel types as it is practicable.
He said Clallam Transit will begin running buses with 5 percent biodiesel blended with diesel and in the future may increase that percentage.
Officials with the public bus agency also are considering R99 — a renewable diesel fuel, he said.
Port of Port Angeles commissioners decided at their meeting Tuesday that it is not practicable to make the complete switch at this time but unanimously established a policy that all port vehicles will be changed to electric or biodiesel power at some unspecified date in the future.
“The nature of the statute is aspirational, even though the language is mandatory,” Simon Barnhart, the port’s deputy executive director-general counsel, said at the meeting.
“This is a matter that appears to be suddenly of urgency even though the statute has been on the books for some time.
“As the dialogue matures, we’ll see ideas or solutions, what the enforcement mechanisms might be that [the Department of Commerce] might apply.”
Sue Nelson, executive assistant and public records officer of the Port of Port Townsend, said the issue is on the commissioners’ agenda for the June 13 meeting.
Will O’Donnell, communications manager for Jefferson Public Utility District, said he was not aware of the law and will bring it to the attention of General Manager Larry Dunbar for review and discussion.
No information was available from the Clallam County Public Utility District on Wednesday.
Port Townsend City Manager David Timmons said that he hasn’t seen any updates on the issue from the state.
“There seems to be several exemptions for emergency vehicles like police and fire,” Timmons said. “Even our city trucks are considered emergency vehicles if they are working on storms or other emergencies. We have no natural gas here to convert to so I’ll have to get more information to see how this applies to us.”
Executive Director Karen Goschen said the Port of Port Angeles’ use of biodiesel is limited by lack of a supply network on the Peninsula.
Port staff annually will review equipment operations and “evaluate a a real high level” the condition of port vehicles, plugging into the five-year capital facilities plan vehicle replacement, when the purchase of electric and biodiesel-fueled vehicles will be reviewed, Engineering Director Chris Hartman said.
Commissioner Colleen McAleer said the port “should be a leader in this area,” not just with vehicles but with port facilities.
Commissioner Steven Burke argued against conducting a carbon footprint analysis, noting electricity used in port facilities is produced by hydropower.
“I totally agree on the conservation part,” he added.
McAleer said Wednesday that port officials have discussed buying electric-powered security vehicles that could be charged at a port-operated solar charging station.
Clallam County Administrator Jim Jones said Wednesday the county has been following reporting requirements since commissioners approved a climate action plan in 2010.
That’s when the county assumed a $10 million state Department of Commerce loan from the Clallam County Public Utility District for the Carlsborg sewer system.
“State law said then that no one could borrow money from DOC if they did not do this,” he said of taking action to eliminate county use of fossil fuels.
“Since then, we’ve been following, where practical, the advice on electric vehicles and biofuel, so I think we’re covered.”
Jones said use of biofuels is limited because it congeals in cold weather. The county has purchased electric vehicles for the parks department and the county government fleet, and “super-clean diesels” for dump trucks.
________
Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 55650, or at pgottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
Jefferson County Editor/Reporter Jeannie McMacken and Executive Editor Leah Leach contributed to this story.