October 21 - 27, 2021
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Community Newspaper of Blaine and Birch Bay HHHECRWSSHHH Postal Customer
IN THIS
ISSUE
Veterans try to save NW Annex building, page 2
Port commissioner candidates, page 6
PRSRT STD U. S. Postage PAID Permit NO. 87 Blaine, WA 98230
Op-ed: Climate change local challenges, page 13
$269 million into Cherry Point to bring 300 jobs By Ian Haupt
(See BP, page 7)
s The Home Farm U-Pick & Events pumpkin patch on an autumnal October day.
Border reopening: No magic pill for bordertowns B y P a t G r u bb News that the U.S. would open its land borders to vaccinated travelers on November 8 was met with relief by border towns along the northern border and recognition that much more needs to be done before the local economy can begin to be restored. Canada’s insistence that citizens and visitors entering the country must be fully vaccinated as well as having a negative Covid-19 PCR result taken within 72 hours will mean these communities will not see day trippers anytime soon. In a letter to governor Jay Inslee’s assistant Joe Timmons, Point Roberts fire chief Christopher Carleton explained why the reopening would not benefit the community. “The difficulty remains for my commu-
nity of Point Roberts. It may provide access to a few international travelers into Point Roberts but not the day-to-day necessary for economic recovery. This is due to (if it maintains) Canada’s requirement of a negative COVID test to return to Canada regardless of time spent in the US. Our grocery store, parcel locations, gas stations and other businesses need the day-to-day again. It is a welcomed start though for US resort areas and vacation destinations, just not border towns needing day-to-day economic influx as before the pandemic,” he wrote. Carleton pointed out that Point Roberts “provides a highly vaccinated, safe US community” and suggested a possible solution would be for Canada to adopt a “reciprocal approach as we currently have that allows permanent residents of Point
School enrollment drops again, lowest in 5 years By Ian Haupt Forty fewer students walked through Blaine school district doors this year as the Borderites returned to full-time, masked, in-person learning. According to district data, enrollment has decreased by 40 students when compared to the start of last year. Last year, 2,089 students enrolled while 2,049 have enrolled this September. It’s the lowest the district’s enrollment has been in five years. The district has seen a distinct dip in
Photo by Grace McCarthy
enrollment the past two years. When students returned for hybrid learning in September 2020, the district saw 57 fewer students enroll than in September 2019. The past two years account for a 4.5 percent decrease in enrollment. District finance director Amber Porter said in a September 27 school board meeting she does not see the district needing to adjust or remove any school learning programs. Porter told The Northern Light in an email the district expected enrollment to
decline again this year like it did the year before and that it would not affect school operations this year. “Fortunately, the district currently has the financial flexibility to continue operating without making expenditure adjustments in the current year,” she wrote. Unfortunately, because state education apportionment is enrollment driven, next school year’s funding will be affected, Porter said.
Roberts to travel into the Delta/Lower Mainland area without a negative COVID test made available to international travelers who live in the same area to enjoy Point Roberts again without having to provide negative COVID tests returning to Canada.” “Habitual residents” of Point Roberts were recently allowed by a change to the Canadian Order in Council authorizing quarantine measures to access neighboring communities for nonessential purposes without needing a Covid-19 test or show proof of vaccination. The requirement for Covid-19 testing of travelers is gaining opposition in high places. B.C. premier John Horgan stated in an interview on Vancouver radio station CKNW that the test requirement was “stu(See Border, page 3)
INSIDE
BP will invest $269 million in three projects at the Cherry Point Refinery to improve the refinery’s efficiency, reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 7 percent and double its renewable diesel production capabilities, according to a recent press release. The company’s goal is to achieve net zero carbon emission by no later than 2050. The projects are expected to bring more than 300 jobs to Whatcom County over the next three years. “BP’s new investment in Cherry Point builds on a half century of innovation in Washington state,” said David Lawler, BP America chairman and president. “It will position us to provide lower carbon energy while creating jobs and reducing emissions in our operations.” The new investment will put $169 million into a hydrocracker improvement project (HIP), $55 million into cooling water infrastructure (CWI) and $45 million into renewable diesel optimization (RDO). Enhancement of the hydrocracker, which is the “heart” of the refinery, will result in less hydrogen being consumed and fewer maintenance shutdowns. New cooling water infrastructure will increase utilization and energy use by improving year-round optimum cooling water reliability. Together HIP and CWI improvements will reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 160,000 tons per year, equivalent to taking more than 32,000 U.S. cars off the road, the announcement says. RDI will improve the refinery’s renewable diesel production. Renewable diesel is manufactured from biomass-based feedstocks like vegetable oils and rendered animal fats. The release says Cherry Point became the first and only refinery in the Pacific Northwest capable of processing these feedstocks alongside conventional raw materials like crude oils. BP has invested more than $1.5 billion in capital improvements at Cherry Point
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