Greening the Future: Environmental Wins

Dear Friends and Neighbors, 

We are now in the seventh week of the legislative session, and the work in Olympia is moving quickly! In terms of the Committee I chair – Environment and Energy – our focus remains on advancing policies that move us toward a clean energy future, reduce waste, and ensure sustainability for future generations. 

As Chair of the Environment & Energy Committee, I am committed to ensuring Washington continues to lead on climate action, clean energy, and environmental stewardship. This session, we have passed several key bills that will reduce pollution, enhance energy efficiency, and modernize our waste management systems. Here are some of the highlights: 

• House Bill 1018 – Fusion Energy Facilities This bill sets a regulatory framework for the development of fusion energy facilities in Washington, paving the way for innovative clean energy solutions. 

• House Bill 1329 – Wholesale Power Purchases This bill helps public utilities access cleaner and more affordable energy sources, benefiting both consumers and the environment. 

• House Bill 1514 – Low Carbon Thermal Energy This legislation promotes low-carbon heating solutions called Thermal Energy Networks, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and encouraging the transition to clean, affordable electricity. 

• House Bill 1847 – Distributed Alternative Energy Development Making it easier to build to distributed energy resources like solar and wind in the built environment – large roofs, landfills, under transmission lines, etc.   This bill also addresses agrivoltaics. 

• House Bill 1871 – Residential Energy Storage This bill supports the adoption of home battery storage systems, enabling homeowners to store renewable energy and increase grid resilience. 

• House Bill 1462 – Hydrofluorocarbons This bill strengthens restrictions on hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), potent greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change, promoting safer alternatives for cooling and refrigeration. 

• House Bill 1409 – Clean Fuels Program Strentheing Washington’s clean fuels program, this bill accelerates the transition to lower-carbon transportation fuels, reducing emissions and improving air quality. 

• House Bill 1756 – Lead in Cookware To protect public health, this bill addresses the presence of lead in cookware, ensuring that consumer products meet stronger safety standards. 

• House Bill 1150 – Solid Waste Management A comprehensive update to waste management policies, this bill enhances efforts to reduce landfill waste and improve recycling infrastructure by requiring the producers of packaging to take responsibility for recycling expansion. 

• House Bill 1497 – Waste Material Management This legislation promotes the responsible handling of organic waste materials, reducing environmental harm, methane emissions and encouraging sustainable practices. 

• House Bill 1607 – Recycling & Waste Reduction By advancing a “bottle bill”, this bill will reduce bottle waste. 

• House Bill 1522 – Utility Wildfire Mitigation As wildfires become more frequent and intense, this bill requires utilities to implement proactive mitigation measures, protecting communities and natural landscapes. 

• House Bill 1990 – Wildfire Costs & Securitization   Helping utilities and ratepayers manage the financial impact of wildfires, this bill creates a more stable and sustainable funding structure. 

• House Bill 1615 – Water System Classifications Ensuring the safety and reliability of Washington’s water infrastructure, this bill updates classification standards for small public water systems. 

• House Bill 1670 – Sewage-Containing Spills To protect our waterways, this bill strengthens transparency of sewage-related spills, protecting the public who may be recreating in our waters.