Introducing the Responsible Energy Ministry Team at BUF

Our Responsible Energy Team operates a little differently than some of the more traditional teams and committees.  There is a wide diversity of topics that the members of this group are engaged in.  Individuals pursue the particular issue that they are interested in and we come together to share resources, information and to organize and promote a few events when the opportunity arises.  It is a fairly young organization having only come together this past year.

Responsible Energy, is not just about energy alternatives like solar and wind resources, but encompasses topics of climate change, economics, impacts on underrepresented communities, human health, the environment and more.

One of the local issues the group is engaged with on one level or another is the proposed Gateway Pacific Terminal out at Cherry Point.  The proposed terminal is expected to bring in an additional 18 trains (round trip) and a 400+ increase in cape-size ships traveling through the sound exporting coal coming in from the Powder River Basin (Montana & Wyoming).  Cherry Point has been designated an aquatic reserve and is also a sacred site to Lummi Indian Nation.  Individuals have been engaged in writing scoping comments, letters to the editor, letters to political entities and governmental agencies, supporting progressive candidates and more.  It’s also been attending a variety of meetings and events from Seattle to Vancouver, BC.  

This past year the Responsible Energy team hosted “Rooted Lands” as part of the Bellingham Human Rights Film Festival.  “Rooted Lands” was a film on fracking in the Southwest and the impacts it would have on Latino and White communities.  It also spoke about community organizing and passing local ordinances to protect those communities targeted for fossil fuel energy projects.  We are actively collaborating with other organizations such as the Power Past Coal, Sierra Club, Protect Whatcom, Safeguard the South Fork, Occupy Bellingham, interfaith groups, other environmental groups and more.

On May 22, 2014 the team is hosting “Crude Awakening Oil Train Tour” with Matt Krogh of Forest Ethics and Dana Lyons.  Both Matt and Dana done presentations of one sort or another at BUF.  Matt came to Forest Ethics from RE Sources North Sound Baykeeper program which focused on water quality and conservation in the area and is/was heavily involved with opposing the Gateway Pacific Terminal.  At Forest Ethics he focusing his skills and efforts on the tar sands and oil projects being developed throughout the Northwest, but with particular emphasis on the impacts of the Bakken oil trains that will running through the area to both the Phillips Conoco and British Petroleum refineries also located out at Cherry Point.  Dana Lyons is a fairly regular face at BUF and with BUF members.  He is a world-renown activist/singer and songwriter and all around brilliant, knowledgeable and wonderful entertainer that speaks to any number of environmental and social justice issues.

The team is considering holding a Responsible Energy film festival next fall that could offer films on a variety of subjects.  Stay tuned!