Update on the AltaGas Ferndale Terminal Project
Thank you for staying engaged and informed on the local issues shaping our county. As a follow-up to our recent email outlining the AltaGas Ferndale Terminal proposal and review process, we want to share an important update and a clear opportunity to participate.
In 2024, AltaGas | ALA Energy submitted a regulatory application to Whatcom County for two environmentally beneficial projects at the existing Ferndale Terminal: an enclosed ground flare and a waste gas recycling system. As part of this process, the company agreed to an extensive environmental review of historical facility changes, including already permitted changes, dating back to 2016.
Following what the County Planning Director Mark Personius described as the most comprehensive environmental review ever conducted for a Cherry Point project, Whatcom County issued a Mitigated Determination of Non-Significance (MDNS). That decision is now under appeal by several environmental organizations, including RE Sources, who state this issue is their number one priority in Whatcom County.
As this process moves forward, it is important that decision-makers hear from community members who value fact-based decision-making and fair outcomes. Key facts include:
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All proposed projects are entirely within the existing Ferndale Terminal footprint. No terminal expansion is proposed.
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The projects are designed to reduce emissions and are expected to generate more than $10 million in direct local economic impact.
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AltaGas committed to enforceable limits on vessel and rail traffic and offered additional voluntary mitigation measures, including marine safety protocols, funding for Quiet Sound, and equipment donations to local emergency response organizations.
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AltaGas controls redevelopment rights to the former Intalco site, a significant industrial asset that will play a role in future economic planning at Cherry Point.
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Predictability in permitting and appeals is critical to long-term planning and private investment, with implications that extend beyond a single project.
How to Participate
It’s time to support decisions guided by facts, environmental responsibility, and local economic benefits. To ensure these perspectives are heard, please submit a written public comment by emailing the Whatcom County Hearing Examiner:
Comments must be received by January 28, reference CUP 2024-00006 / APL 2025-00006 – ALA Energy LLC, and request that the permits be issued and the appeal denied.
Future 42 encourages you to participate in person by attending the Open Record Public Hearing on Wednesday, January 28, at the Whatcom County Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham.
Future 42 will continue providing updates and additional action alerts as this and other important local issues evolve. Thank you for being part of an informed and engaged community.