Anacortes planning commission holds public hearing on climate-plan updates as residents warn against battery storage and refinery impacts

April 23 — The Anacortes Planning Commission held a public hearing April 23 on proposed amendments to the 2025 Comprehensive Plan’s climate, environment and conservation elements, hearing staff and consultant presentations and several public comments focused on battery energy storage systems and March Point refinery impacts.

Planning staff Libby Graig opened the hearing and summarized the process to date; Katie Saunders, a planner with MAKERS Architecture and Urban Design, reviewed text changes proposed to the climate element, including wording edits to several goal and policy statements and clarification of coordination with utilities. Saunders read a revised policy text that would increase outreach on wildfire risks: "Increased community awareness of local wildfire hazards and collaborate with property owners in high risk areas when developing a community wildfire prevention plan and coordinate on the need to protect structures adjacent to forested areas from wildfire danger as required by state wildfire, wildland…