Moving toward a clean energy future
Washington has long been a leader on environmental issues, and with the increasing threat of climate change, now is not the time to be complacent. The science is clear: climate change poses significant risks to our economy, our health, and our quality of life. The most recent National Climate Assessment, a federal report prepared by hundreds of scientists, details the disruptive impacts anticipated in the United States and the Pacific Northwest if we don’t take action now to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
It is beyond time to prioritize the long-term health of our economy and environment, which is why I am so pleased to report that multiple bills that would help move our state toward a cleaner energy future are still moving through the legislative process.
Clean Fuel Standard (HB 1110): The biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions in our state is from the transportation sector, representing about 45 percent of Washington’s emissions. This bill would establish a Clean Fuels Program similar to those already successfully underway in California, Oregon, and British Columbia. The program would improve local air quality and provide economic benefits to Washington communities by increasing demand for biofuels produced in the state. The Senate Committee on Transportation recently had a hearing on the bill, after it was voted out of the Senate Environment, Energy & Technology Committee last month.
Phasing out super pollutants (HB 1112): Hydrofluorocarbons, or HFCs, are used primarily in commercial and industrial refrigerants. These greenhouse gases are known as “super pollutants” because they can be thousands of times more damaging to our climate than carbon dioxide. This bill phases out these harmful gases and transitions to safe and cost-effective alternatives, which already exist. It was voted out of the Senate Ways & Means Committee yesterday.
100% Clean Electricity (SB 5116): This bill will help transition our state to a clean energy future by removing carbon emissions from the generation of electricity. It requires utilities to gradually transition away from fossil fuel-generated electricity, setting a preliminary “coal elimination” deadline of 2025, and a final “clean grid” deadline of 2045. The bill was voted out of the House Appropriations Committee on Monday, and is now in the Rules Committee waiting to be considered on the floor of the House.
Increasing Energy Efficiency (HB 1257): The fastest-growing source of emissions in Washington is our buildings. Retrofitting old buildings and updating the standards for new ones would allow us to reduce carbon emissions, while also creating jobs. This bill would help move our state toward that goal. On Monday, the Senate Ways & Means Committee passed the bill, which is now waiting in the Rules Committee to be considered on the Senate floor.
Protecting orcas for future generations
This past weekend I was back in district with my family, and during our time at the dog beach in Edmonds, we spotted a pod of orca out in the Sound! An exciting and unique experience that reminded me how fortunate we are to have these amazing creatures living in our region.
It also reminded me how critical it is to do something to protect them NOW, because soon all the Southern Resident orcas will be gone. The orca is our state’s official marine mammal and a significant symbol for Native Americans in our region, but the population is on the verge of extinction. We have a shared responsibility to take action and protect our orcas, which is why I strongly support the bills moving through the Legislature that will do just that.
The bills address the greatest threats to orca survival, such as insufficient food supply, oil spills, and vessel noise and disturbance. House Bill 1579 would increase habitat for Chinook salmon and other forage fish, thereby increasing the amount of fish that are a main food source for orcas. House Bill 1578 would reduce threats to Southern Resident orca habitats by improving the safety of oil transportation. Both bills were voted out of the Senate Ways & Means Committee on Monday, and are now waiting in the Rules Committee to be considered on the floor of the Senate.
Another bill to protect the Southern Resident orcas, Senate Bill 5577, would require reduced vessel noise and disturbance by increasing the distance within which a vessel may not approach an orca, and establishing a speed limit within a certain distance. While a previous version of this bill had more rigorous restrictions, the version still moving strikes a balance between the need to protect whales and supporting an environmentally-sustainable whale watching industry. The bill was passed out of the House Appropriations Committee on Monday, and is now in the House Rules Committee waiting to be pulled to the floor.
By taking these bold steps, we can work to ensure that future generations of Washingtonians have the same opportunity I had this past weekend – to see the Southern Resident orca thriving in Washington waters.
Reducing plastic pollution
Single-use and disposable plastics are cheap and convenient, but they break down into harmful microplastics when they degrade in the environment, contaminating our beaches, marine environment, and soil. In order for Washington to do its part in addressing this global problem, multiple bills have been introduced this session aimed at limiting single-use plastics, incentivizing alternative materials, and reducing plastic pollution.
Legislation to restrict single-use plastic bags (SB 5323), restrict single-use plastic straws (SB 5077), and reduce plastic contamination of municipal and food waste composting programs (HB 1569) were all recently voted out of the appropriate policy and fiscal committees and are now in the House and Senate Rules Committees respectively, waiting to be considered on the floor. As the prime sponsor of the House companion bill, I am particularly pleased to see Senate Bill 5323 still moving, and will continue to advocate for this common sense policy that would encourage the use of reusable bags.
By reducing our consumption of single-use plastics, we can make strides in cleaning up plastic pollution and begin addressing the damages already done to our waterways, our wildlife, and our health.
Thank you for taking the time to read this update, and please feel free to reach out if you have comments, questions, or ideas!
Sincerely,
Rep. Strom Peterson