Since the first Earth Day 52 years ago, many our friends and neighbors have taken action to protect our natural heritage and ensure a better world for future generations. Here are some of our local leaders who were recommended for recognition by our membership.
(Other years: 2023, 2021, & 2020)
Everett Transit
We recognize Everett Transit for the example it is providing to other transit agencies as they transition away from fossil fuel powered public transit. Everett Transit ran its first electric bus in fall of 2018. This bus provided reliable, clean transportation and was innovative for the long range the battery was able to provide.
Since 2018 Everett Transit has increased its fleet to a total of 9 large buses running entirely on battery power through the streets of Everett. But that is just the agency’s past great work. Everett Transit currently has on order 10 more electric buses scheduled to be in full service by March of 2023. And, the unique feature of these 10 new electric buses is their ability to be charged while out on a route, using the same wireless, inductive charging system many of us use to charge our cell phones. That charging system means these buses don’t have to return to the bus barn to be charged, but instead can be recharging while parked over an induction charging loop embedded in the roadway at the turnaround spot on their route. These induction charging stations will be the first to be installed west of the Cascades. They are a result of Everett Transit’s close partnership with Snohomish County Public Utility District.
Plans call for nine more inductive charging stations in other layover locations throughout the city and the purchase of another 15 electric buses to continue to replace older, polluting diesel buses. Everett Transit expects to be 100% electric in their fixed route fleet by 2028, when the last large diesel bus is up for replacement.
Addressing climate change takes each of us finding creative, courageous ways to change our current habits and known practices. That is what Everett Transit is doing. As a result it is serving as a powerful, motivating model for other transit agencies in our region
Representative Dave Paul
Dave Paul, State Representative for the 10th Legislative District, worked to make Island County’s evolving transportation network cleaner and greener. Through Dave’s work on the State Transportation Committee, he worked alongside municipal and county leaders, and Governor Inslee to secure $7 million that will enable Island Transit to purchase zero-emission electric buses.
Even more exciting (perhaps to the nation), because of Dave Paul’s work, our Washington State Ferry system will be adding 4 new hybrid-electric ferries to its fleet. Also, 2 existing ferry boats will be retrofitted to become hybrids.
In addition to investing in green infrastructure, Dave Paul is directing our state to invest in people. His work on the College & Workforce Committee will provide scholarships and assistance to help alleviate shortages in professions, ranging from nurses to ferry workers.
For those who know Dave, you know that he has been a champion of Running Start, the program that allows high schoolers to earn college credits that literally give students a Running Start when they go to college. Legislators heard so much about Running Start from Dave, they made it permanent and statewide.
Sound Water Stewards
Sound Water Stewards work in and around Island County for a healthy, sustainable marine environment through education, science, and stewardship.
Since their inception in 2016, over 800 people have trained to be Sound Water Stewards. Volunteers complete 100 hours of top-quality training, and then contribute an average of 20,000 hours per year to Sound Water Stewards and partner organizations. These volunteers augment the work of professional scientists, which accelerates research while keeping costs down. The map on this slide shows where they have projects. As you can tell, they are very busy all over Whidbey Island.
Projects include monitoring Asian Hornet traps. They collect mussels for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, which are used to determine the types and amounts of contaminants. They monitor the condition of bull kelp forests and survey breeding colonies of pigeon guillemots.
Volunteers also work directly with stewardship programs, like beach clean-ups, resulting in removal of 95 pounds of debris in 2021. Their fishing line collection removed over 100 pounds of fishing line from our coastline.
Sound Water Stewards host many education projects of their own. Over 550 people participated in their live education classes in 2021. Their popular guidebook, Getting to the Water’s Edge, is now in its third edition. Their educational videos have over 3,550 views.
Their annual marquee event, Sound Waters University, presented 13 collegiate level classes to 542 participants in 2021. This year, seven high school students were able to attend through scholarships from Sno-Isle Sierra Club. The students raved about the quality of the classes and shared with us how excited they were about this life-changing experience during our February meeting.
This impressive group currently has 7 members who work together to inspire environmentally responsible behavior and leadership. Since their inception in 2015, they have hosted documentary film viewings, advocated for environmental legislation, conducted noxious weed and beach clean-ups, and hosted Earth Day events. Their Taming Bigfoot challenge had 77 participants on 14 teams, all working to reduce their carbon footprint. Participants reported that not only was it fun and informative, but the awareness they gained resulted in concrete, long-term behavior changes. They also have a highly informative, user-friendly webpage of resources for shrinking our carbon footprint.
The Snohomish Conservation District
The Snohomish Conservation District is focused on a voluntary approach to conservation through education, technical and financial assistance, and on-the-ground projects. They work to address land management issues with the goal of conserving the natural resources we all share. A few of their many services include:
- Farm Planning with certified farm planners to ensure viable local agriculture.
- Urban Living programs such as rain gardens, rain catchment, sustainable landscaping, and urban agriculture.
- Habitat Restoration to help restore the habitat that ultimately affects threatened salmon, orcas, and countless other species.
- Youth Education with hands-on, real-world learning to address the conservation issues we see every day.
Coming soon is their April 28th one-hour webinar featuring the new Puget Sound Urban Tree Canopy and Stormwater Management Handbook! Learn about the many benefits of urban trees, explore the tools and resources in the Handbook, and find out about the expanded web-based toolkit.
Washington Trails Association
From its beginnings in 1966 as Signpost Magazine, where Washingtonians shared hiking adventures and trail conditions, WTA has evolved into not only the go-to website for avid hikers, trail runners, snowshoers, and serious walkers, but
Importantly, WTA continues to evolve as a forward-looking organization that actively invites all people to join the outdoor community. the state’s largest volunteer trail maintenance program and a key legislative advocacy group for Washington’s trails and natural areas.
Over the past few years, WTA has established partnerships and activity programs aimed toward addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion, to ensure universal access and safe, positive experiences in the outdoors. These programs include "Trails for Everyone, Forever," and “The Trail Next Door,” as well as their work to build partnerships with organizations such as Outdoor Afro, Girl Trek, Latino Outdoors, Outdoor Asian, and Young Women Empowered.
Through these programs WTA is working to reduce barriers and to create safe spaces for people and populations that may not have had opportunities to be outdoors. To this end, their Outdoor Leadership Training program has trained 300 leaders who have taken more than 10,000 new hikers on outdoor excursions in the last five years. Their “Trail Next Door” program addresses the unequal access to green spaces in urban areas, so that anyone can step out their front door and easily access a trail where you can see greenery, hear birds, and take a deep breath.
WTA naturally combines land stewardship and conservation work with the stewardship of social justice. Its commitment to set up hiking and trail maintenance activities and outings aimed towards welcoming people of color, women, LGBTQ — in short, all hikers, old and young, of all abilities — is exemplary.
Snohomish County Electric Vehicle Association - Bill Trueit
Learn, share, and do. Bill Trueit shares a conviction that action is the necessary and moral responsibility for addressing issues of importance.
After learning about the climate crisis, he attended the Climate Reality Project leadership training in Bellevue in 2017. The organization, founded by former Vice President Al Gore, encourages leaders to participate in "acts of leadership" in addressing the climate crisis. Since that time Trueit has delivered presentations on climate, written opinion pieces for the Mill Creek Beacon, and started the Snohomish County chapter of the Electric Vehicle Association.
This Saturday the chapter will celebrate Earth Day with an electric car show on April 23rd in Mill Creek, from noon to 4 pm. Come out and meet with local electric vehicle owners and see their ebikes, cars, vans, trucks, motorcycles, and more. Bring your friends and family too!