Alex McLean's Page

How are you currently involved in the Transition?

I studied environmental journalism, environmental science, and sustainable design at Huxley College. It was through this scattered education that I eventually fell hard upon green roofs. My construction background has not been especially green, but I've changed that radically in recent years as I have worked on my own projects and for clients. In 2010 I founded Bellingham Green Roofs -- which was a business fantasy that has since morphed into a manic hobby of local education and lobbying -- and joined the Greenways Advisory Committee later in that year. In 2011 I was also appointed to the Transportation Commission where I have been pleasantly surprised to find a strong awareness of Bellingham's non-motorized needs and the growing demand for sustainable transportation alternatives. In 2012, somewhat as a synthesis of these various efforts, I proposed to the City of Bellingham that the top floor of the Downtown Bellingham Parkade, a perpetually empty slab of publicly-owned concrete, be transformed to a public park and pea-patch garden. An (overly) detailed prospectus of this idea is available for review on my Web site @ www.bellinghamgreenroofs.com under the "Bayview Sky Park" tab.

In what ways do you identify with the Transition movement? Why are you interested?

Most all of them. I waver on the spiritual aspects I see posted occasionally on the TW calendar, but this is mostly a reflection of my personal satisfaction in this particular realm. What I am more curious about are the physical efforts to improve our structures, agriculture, economy, roads, power grid, etc. I'm bothering to post/join TW now because I am aware that the City of Bellingham plans to divest itself entirely from the public gardens program it currently manages. Although not terribly interested in gardening, I do feel this would be a huge loss to the community if some viable organization does not step up to fill the void and, therefore, will do what I can to get involved in that effort.

Do you have particular interests, skills, talents or resources you would like to bring to Transition Whatcom?

I could teach what I know about green roofs and Low Impact Development (LID is guv'ment-speak for sustainable stormwater management; using natural systems to replace the pipes, sewer overflows, flooding, and pollution that have become the number one source of contamination in the Puget Sound and its freshwater tributaries.)

In what neighborhood or part of the county do you reside?

Happy Valley

Your Personal Website (if you have one)

http://www.bellinghamgreenroofs.com

Where did you hear about Transition Whatcom and how did you find our community network website?

TW just keeps popping up on my cyber field, like weeds on a green roof, and I feel like it just blew in on the wind to establish itself in my deleted e-mail bin.

Please note that you do not have to answer all of the above questions in order to join, and you can always come back later to edit your profile. If it's all too many questions for now, please provide a short answer below on why you'd like to join this site (or a summary of the above, if answered).

My favorite color is green.