January 2025
IN THIS
ISSUE
www.AllPointBulletin.com
Parks to limit commercial use of kitchen, page 2
District interviews for superintendent, page 6
ECRWSS PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 14
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Winners of the chamber’s Shine Bright contest, page 11
Point Roberts, WA 98281 Postal Patron Local
Here’s to a kelpish 2025! Solar system could cost over $1 million for community center, library By Erin Kelly At the meeting of the Point Roberts Park and Recreation Department on December 9, Josh Miller of Cascadia Renewables presented findings from a recently completed solar feasibility study of six Point Roberts sites. Of the locations evaluated, Miller went into detail about two sites, the library and the community center on Gulf Road. According to Miller, by using the library’s east and west roofs, a system similar to a typical Washington residential size solar system would be able to be installed generating 110 percent of its annual needs and effectively reducing its power bill to zero through net metering. In emergencies, the system, paired with a generator, could operate 23 hours on solar and onehour on the generator in summer, and 19 hours of solar with five hours of generator use in winter. The community center’s roof was unsuitable for solar due to equipment, drainage systems, and tall parapets. Instead, Cascadia proposed a ground-mounted solar parking structure in the east lot. The system would offset 140 percent of the center’s annual energy use, covering electric bills and providing capacity for up to three EV charging stations. In emergencies, it would reduce generator use similarly to the library system. The mid-range cost estimate for the complete library system would be $218,898 and $789,617 for the community center. Miller suggested that the district consider possible upcoming grant opportunities, which have previously covered up to 100 percent of project costs. “It really is a great opportunity to jump on this grant funding while it is available through the Climate Commitment Act, which was just extended,” said Miller. The feasibility study can be accessed by contacting Resilient Point Roberts through their email, resilientpointroberts@gmail. com. tjohnson;Seattle;Clean Air Comfort Systems;C33432;10x2-4c (24No)
s A walk on the seashore gave Fae Curet the idea to signal the new year using bull kelp cast onto the beach.
2024
year in
REVIEW
A Look Back at the Year That Just Was
By Erin Kelly Another year checked off and what a year it was ... war, disease, pestilence, man, were those the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse trotting down Tyee Drive the other day? Nah, those guys wouldn’t be caught dead on Icelandic horses. Here it is, the annual look back at the year in Point Roberts on an issue by issue basis. January • The fire district eliminated charges for ambulance trips to St. Joseph PeaceHealth Medical center in Bellingham. The fire dis-
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trict also introduced the welcome home transport program which provides patients with a ride back to the Point after hospital stays. • Blaine school district superintendent Dr. Christopher Granger held a townhall meeting on January 24 in Point Roberts to discuss the special election (held February 13) where voters were given the opportunity to approve two separate levy and bond requests. • Whatcom County Council and Whatcom County Executive offices announced over 100 vacant positions across 35 advisory commissions and invited the public (See Year in Review, page 5)
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Church ............................................... 7 Classifieds ......................................... 14 Coming Up ....................................... 15 Crossings .......................................... 18 Garden ................................................ 8 Opinion ............................................... 4 Seniors, Library, Sheriffs ................ 18 Tides ................................................. 16
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