### Meeting Overview Whatcom County Council Committee of the Whole met on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, to continue reviewing multiple chapters of the county's comprehensive plan update. The meeting focused heavily on energy policy, agricultural economics, and infrastructure planning, with significant discussion about nuclear energy technologies and water access for farming. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Comprehensive Plan:** A long-term policy document that guides county development and land use decisions over a 20-year period, required by state law. **Nuclear Fusion vs. Fission:** Fusion combines hydrogen atoms to create helium (like the sun), while fission splits uranium atoms. Fusion produces only helium as waste and cannot be used for weapons. **Small Modular Reactors (SMRs):** Fourth-generation nuclear fission technology using smaller, supposedly safer reactor units that require less water than traditional nuclear plants. **Off-Grid Development:** Housing and facilities designed to operate independently from utility infrastructure, often using solar panels, battery storage, and alternative waste processing. **Source Separated Recycling:** Recyclables separated from garbage at the point of generation (your home), even if later combined into single-stream collection. **Agricultural Water Rights:** Legal entitlements to use water for farming purposes, critical for economic viability of agricultural land. **Adjudication:** Legal process to determine water rights in over-allocated river basins, currently ongoing for several Whatcom County watersheds. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Kaylee Galloway | Council Chair, Committee of the Whole Chair | | Elizabeth Boyle | Council Member | | Barry Buchanan | Council Member | | Ben Elenbaas | Council Member | | Jessica Rienstra | Council Member | | Jon Scanlon | Council Member | | Mark Stremler | Council Member | | Eddie Urie | PUD Commissioner, invited guest speaker on nuclear energy | | Jed Holmes | Executive's Office staff, legislative update presenter | | Kimberly Tolene | Attorney for Council | | Jennifer Hayden | Health Department, Solid Waste Division | ### Background Context This meeting continued comprehensive plan discussions that determine how Whatcom County will grow and develop over the next 20 years. The council addressed several emerging policy challenges: how to enable new energy technologies while maintaining nuclear-free zone protections established by a 1984 citizen initiative; how to support agricultural viability amid ongoing water rights disputes; and how to modernize building codes for off-grid development. The nuclear energy discussion was particularly significant, as it could represent the first major reconsideration of the county's nuclear-free policies in over 40 years. ### What Happened — The Short Version The meeting covered six agenda items. Staff reported on the 2026 legislative session, highlighting $13 million in flood response funding and new ferry district authority. The council then worked through four comprehensive plan chapters, making amendments on trail naming, off-grid development policies, and nuclear energy. Most significantly, they changed language from "fusion" to "nuclear" energy, opening potential paths for both fusion and small modular reactor technologies. They also strengthened agricultural water access policies and updated child care workforce development language. ### What to Watch Next • April 7 meeting will address water-related policies across multiple comprehensive plan chapters, including adjudication impacts • Staff will prepare approved chapters for formal council introduction and public hearing • Follow-up needed on nuclear energy code amendments to align with comprehensive plan changes ---

**Q:** How much flood response funding did Whatcom County receive from the 2026 legislative session? **A:** $13 million was provided for flood response, with additional funds for risk assessment and debris removal. **Q:** What trail name was changed during this meeting? **A:** Coast Millennium Trail was changed to Salish Coast Trail in the comprehensive plan. **Q:** What is the key difference between nuclear fusion and fission regarding weapons production? **A:** Fusion cannot be used for weapons production, while fission can. Fusion only produces helium as waste. **Q:** Who is Eddie Urie? **A:** Commissioner for PUD #1 of Whatcom County, serving as board president, who spoke about nuclear energy technologies. **Q:** What does "off-grid development" mean in this context? **A:** Housing and facilities designed to operate independently from utility infrastructure using solar panels, battery storage, and alternative waste systems. **Q:** What change did the council make regarding nuclear energy policy? **A:** They changed comprehensive plan language from "fusion" to "nuclear," allowing exploration of both fusion and small modular reactor technologies. **Q:** What is a Small Modular Reactor (SMR)? **A:** Fourth-generation nuclear fission technology using smaller reactor units that require less water and are considered safer than traditional nuclear plants. **Q:** What vote totals were recorded for the nuclear energy amendment? **A:** The amendment to change "fusion" to "nuclear" passed 7-0 unanimously. **Q:** What major water infrastructure was discussed for agricultural support? **A:** Potential pipelines connecting water systems, such as Bellingham sharing water with Lynden, to support agricultural viability. **Q:** What is the county's current nuclear-free zone policy from? **A:** A 1984 citizen initiative that established Whatcom County as a nuclear-free zone, though it focused on weapons production. **Q:** How much was cut from behavioral health programs in the state budget? **A:** Law enforcement diversion was reduced 30%, co-response teams cut 30%, and Recovery Navigator program reduced 10%. **Q:** What child care language was added to economic development policies? **A:** Recognition that access to affordable child care supports workforce participation and economic vitality in Whatcom County. **Q:** What does "source separated recycling" mean? **A:** Recyclables separated from garbage at the point of generation, even if later combined into single-stream collection systems. **Q:** What agricultural policy change emphasized water access? **A:** Language acknowledging that access to water is necessary for agriculture to remain the highest and best use of designated agricultural lands. **Q:** When is the next major comprehensive plan discussion scheduled? **A:** April 7, 2026, focusing on water-related policies across multiple chapters including adjudication impacts. ---