OUR MISSION
Our Mission is to work together with Citizens and Community Leaders to foster responsible and smart economic growth. Growth that supports living-wage jobs. Growth that promotes the Arts & Humanities. Growth that sustains our connections with our rural lifestyle and natural environment.
In order to complete our Mission, RG * NEW is committed and dedicated to stopping the proposed Newport silicon metal smelter. An urban, industrial giant that will destroy our rural lifestyle and our rural community. It will put our health, our environment, our air, our water quality, our soils and our wild and domestic animals at risk due to the regulated and unregulated toxic emissions and other sources of pollution.
Update June 2022
Responsible Growth continues to move forward in protecting our environment. It would appear the proposed Newport Silicon Metal Smelter is no longer an environmental threat, even though PacWest Silicon, LLC still owns the 188 acres where the smelter was to be sited. PacWest Silicon has now moved on to Tennessee with the hopes of siting a Silicon Metal Refinery. RG * NEW is in contact with an environmental group opposing this refinery.
Our concern now is the Merkle Standard Cryptomining Facility outside of Usk, Washington and sited in the former Ponderay Newsprint Company plant. Our concern is one of the massive amount of energy that will be consumed – 600 megawatts – by the facility; noise pollution on domestic animals and the wildlife, plus humans; electronic waste disposal and recycling, cooling liquid being put back into Pend Oreille River, and a number of other serious environmental issues. https://www.kxly.com/former-ponderay-newsprint-mill-reopens-at-cryptocurrency-mining-operation/
RG * NEW was the recipient of a $25, 000 grant for our work in protecting the environment. This came as a complete surprise to us. The focus of the grant is for the exclusive purpose of supporting Grantee’s charitable, scientific, or/and educational activities. Under the funding, RG * NEW formed a series of partnerships with other non-profits in order to fulfill the purpose of the grant. We will keep folks updated on activities and events covered under this grant. The funding period runs from January 1, 2022 thru December 31, 2022.https://www.facebook.com/RgNEWash/posts/1112360896162163
Responsible Growth * NE Washington is supporting Newport’s Creative District Committee. The Creative District is a program sponsored by the Washington State Arts Commission. The Focus of the program is to help communities create long term economic opportunities and support long term growth of the arts, culture, and the creative sector. Presently the committee is in the application process.
Update 2021
Responsible Growth * NE Washington has determined that the buying up and selling off of our Eastern Washington water rights, which includes the whole of the Columbia River watershed system, by Crown Columbia Water Resources is detrimental to the well-being of Pend Oreille County’s citizens, our environment, and health. Our Natural Resources should never be for sale. RG * NEW voted to take the initiative to fight any attempts by Crown Columbia to sell Pend Oreille River water and its tributaries and to provide the public with any information to the effect. Crown Columbia Water Right Application.
RG * NEW enthusiastically supports the concept of regenerative agriculture/gardening https://www.facebook.com/Greenamerica/videos/512570286567206 as a way of enriching and building up our soils right now and for future generations. https://thechalkboardmag.com/what-is-regenerative-agriculture. RG * NEW highly encourages the viewing of “Kiss the Ground” for a better understanding of regenerative agriculture https://kisstheground.com.
We are happy to support organizations that mirror our own mission and goals. One of those many organizations is Green America. They wrote a very strong letter opposing the development of the proposed HiTest/PacWest silicon metal smelter for which we were very appreciative. https://www.greenamerica.org.
When did it become ok for a massive industrial complex to entrench itself in the middle of rural residential properties and position itself to be built perilously close to incorporated and unincorporated towns, homes, schools, a hospital, recreational areas, waters sources without one opportunity for the citizens to say, “No! Not in my neighborhood!”
ECONOMIC GROWTH
Responsible economic growth can help us achieve our goals for smart. growth while maintaining our distinctive rural character.
ARTS & HUMANITIES
The arts and humanities can shape the future or our rural communities creating a shared sense of belonging and ultimately strengthening our social, cultural and economic vibrancy.
FAIR LAWMAKING
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
VOLUNTEERISM
The bottom line is volunteering makes a difference in our community and in ourselves. It builds community and focuses on issues that are of a common concern to all of us. Volunteering creates deeper connections with other people and strengthens our character and resolve.
Help us stop the Newport smelter!
“Misinformation, secrecy, and impropriety of land sales and project funds handling are being challenged by citizen groups (CANNS, RG*NEW), and the Kalispel Tribe. Smelter emissions will cause health problems and damaging acid rain. Our health, welfare, and environment (including our endangered Selkirk Caribou) are in peril. Will this exploitive, polluting, undemocratic project be Governor Inslee’s legacy?” J. Endres