http://www.environmentwashington.org/news-releases/global-warming/global-warming-news http://www.environmentwashington.org/news-releases/global-warming/global-warming-news/limits-on-global-warming-pollution-now-the-law-in-washington-state OLYMPIA – Today, the Washington State Senate passed a historic climate action bill that joins Washington with California and New Jersey in placing limits on greenhouse gas reductions and begins the process to enact a cap-and-trade framework to reduce state emissions by at least 70% over the next 40 years. The measure, which had already passed by a vote of 64-31 in the House, today passed in the Senate by a vote of 29-19. Rep. Hans Dunshee (Snohomish) was the prime sponsor of the bill, introduced at the request of Gov. Chris Gregoire. Sen. Craig Pridemore (Vancouver) was the lead in the Senate. Because the bill was not amended in the Senate, it will go directly to Gov. Gregoire’s desk where she is expected to sign the bill into law. House Bill 2815 includes the following elements: • Mandates that the state “shall limit emissions of greenhouse gases” to attain 1990 levels of emissions by 2020, 25% below 1990 levels by 2035 and 50% below 1990 levels by 2050; • Requires the state Department of Ecology to work through the Western Climate Initiative to develop Washington’s plan for participation in a multi-state cap and trade system and then report back to the legislature on that plan by December 1 of this year; • Mandates reporting of greenhouse gas emissions by all large industrial and energy emitters, the first step in a cap-and-trade system; • Requires the state Department of Transportation to adopt statewide goals to reduce per capita vehicle miles traveled (VMT), as well as plans and tools to achieve these reductions. Transportation is responsible for half of the state’s emissions. VMT reductions, along with cleaner vehicle and fuel technologies, will be critical for reducing the state’s emissions. • Requires state agencies and state colleges and trade schools to collaborate on increasing the number of green-collar, clean energy jobs in Washington state through job training, recruitment and retention programs. “This bill puts Washington at the forefront of addressing global warming and will ensure Washington state plays a prominent role in shaping the national climate debate as the Bush administration moves on and a new president takes office,” noted Environment Washington Program Director, Bill LaBorde. “The Sierra Club applauds the Governor's leadership at following through on the Climate Advisory Team's recommendations,” said Trevor Kaul, Sierra Club Cascade Chapter Director. “Our state is setting the standard for investments in clean energy, green jobs and healthy communities. By setting firm goals for greenhouse gas reductions and vehicle miles traveled, we can meet the challenge of climate change while ensuring a stronger economy and a healthier environment for our communities.” This bill was supported by Environment Washington, the Sierra Club Cascade Chapter and the Washington Blue-Green Action Alliance. Environment Washington is a statewide citizen-based environmental advocacy organization. We are the new home of WashPIRG’s environmental work. More information about Environment Washington can be found at www.environmentwashington.org The Sierra Club is the nation's oldest, largest, and most influential grassroots environmental organization. The Cascade Chapter is its voice for most of Washington State. More information about the Sierra Club, Cascade Chapter can be found at http://cascade.sierraclub.org/ http://www.environmentwashington.org/news-releases/global-warming/global-warming-news/limits-on-global-warming-pollution-now-the-law-in-washington-state Thu, 06 Mar 2008 08:54:05 -0600 http://www.environmentwashington.org/news-releases/global-warming/global-warming-news/environmental-groups-to-president-elect-fight-global-warming-and-rebuild-the-economy In a statement Tuesday, President-elect Obama said, “We have the opportunity now to create jobs all across this country in all 50 states to repower America, to redesign how we use energy and think about how we are increasing efficiency to make our economy stronger, make us more safe, reduce our dependence on foreign oil and make us competitive for decades to come -- even as we save the planet." “Putting America on the path to a new clean energy economy means more secure energy in the long term; less global warming pollution; fewer asthma attacks from air pollution; more clean lakes and rivers for drinking water, swimming and fishing, and more good jobs right here at home,” said Kristin Anderson, of Environment Washington. Environment Washington recommended investing $144 billion in clean, renewable energy, energy efficiency, and smart transportation to create millions of jobs. Among the recommendations are weatherizing one million U.S. homes, training more than 100,000 new workers to install clean energy systems and increasing public transportation capacity by 10 percent a year. Several of the recommendations would help President-elect Obama fulfill his promise to make public buildings more energy efficient, and install solar panels on their roofs. “President-elect Obama is right to embrace the clean energy opportunity in our economic challenge,” continued Anderson. “By making smart investments now, we can set a course to repower America with 100 percent clean electricity, refuel America by cutting our oil dependence in half, and rebuild America with 5 million new jobs − at the same time, we can do our part to stop global warming.” Environment Washington also warned that Big Oil, King Coal, the road-builders and other polluting interests will be lobbying for a piece of any economic recovery program. “We call on President-elect Obama and Washington’s congressional delegation to keep it clean and pass a green recovery plan for a cleaner safer stronger America,” concluded Anderson. Environment Washington’s joint proposal with a coalition of 16 other environment and conservation groups is posted at www.saveourenvironment.org Read more about Environment Washington’s proposals for clean, homegrown energy, energy efficiency, and transportation. # # # http://www.environmentwashington.org/news-releases/global-warming/global-warming-news/environmental-groups-to-president-elect-fight-global-warming-and-rebuild-the-economy Mon, 15 Dec 2008 12:11:26 -0600 http://www.environmentwashington.org/news-releases/global-warming/global-warming-news/western-states-take-giant-step-forward-in-fight-against-global-warming The Western Climate Initiative (WCI) today unveiled their final design for a regional cap and trade program to spur reductions in pollution that cause global warming. The regional agreement between seven Western states and four Canadian provinces was praised by environmental groups as a significant advancement in the establishment of science-based action on global warming. The plan includes a cap on stationary pollution sources such as power plants and refineries as well as the transportation sector making it the largest reductions plan in the world. http://www.environmentwashington.org/news-releases/global-warming/global-warming-news/western-states-take-giant-step-forward-in-fight-against-global-warming Tue, 23 Sep 2008 11:17:28 -0500 http://www.environmentwashington.org/news-releases/global-warming/global-warming-news/western-governors-urged-to-put-the-public-ahead-of-polluters-in-global-warming-plan With Western governors poised to announce details of a program to http://www.environmentwashington.org/news-releases/global-warming/global-warming-news/western-governors-urged-to-put-the-public-ahead-of-polluters-in-global-warming-plan Thu, 18 Sep 2008 11:45:19 -0500 http://www.environmentwashington.org/news-releases/global-warming/global-warming-news/washington-governor-signs-landmark-climate-protection-bill Vancouver, WA – Today, Washington Governor Chris Gregoire signed a landmark climate protection bill into law marking an important step in the state’s effort to reduce its impact on global climate change. The bill establishes greenhouse gas reduction goals for the state, calling for the state to reduce emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, 25% below 1990 levels by 2035 and 50% below 1990 levels by 2050. These were the same reduction levels called for in Gov. Gregoire’s February 7, 2007 Executive Order on climate change. The bill also makes Washington only the second state, after California, to establish a standard limiting greenhouse gas emissions from new power plants serving Washington consumers. Under this emissions performance standard, Washington utilities will no longer be able enter into long-term contracts with power plants that emit more emissions than the best technology natural gas plant. “This is a key stepping stone on the path to Washington establishing a comprehensive economy-wide global warming action plan,” said Environment Washington director Bill LaBorde. “With California’s passage of a similar bill last year, SB 6001 sends a strong signal to federal policy makers, energy companies, and Wall Street that there will soon be no market for the traditional coal-fueled power plants that have been the source of so much our nation’s global warming pollution.” One of the more remarkable aspects of the bill was the broad coalition that supported the measure, and the strong bipartisan support it received in both houses of the legislature. Proponents of the bill included not just environmental groups, but also Washington electric utilities, the Weyerhaeuser Company and developers of new power plant technologies. The bill was passed in the House by 84-14, with 22 Republicans joining all Democrats in support of the bill. In the Senate, the bill passed 35-13, with four Republicans voting in favor. This bill is the latest in a series of efforts supported by WashPIRG and Environment Washington to pursue state action on climate change with the hope of both reducing Washington’s emissions, as well as prompting federal action. WashPIRG and Environment Washington have supported successful efforts in Washington to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions from new powerplants, pass California clean car standards, and pass a renewable portfolio standard in 2006 by ballot initiative. SB 6001 establishes a framework for more far reaching action in the future. -###- Environment Washington is a statewide nonprofit, nonpartisan public interest organization dedicated to protecting Washington’s air, water and open spaces. Environment Washington is the new home of WashPIRG’s environmental work. www.environmentwashington.org http://www.environmentwashington.org/news-releases/global-warming/global-warming-news/washington-governor-signs-landmark-climate-protection-bill Mon, 07 May 2007 08:02:45 -0500 http://www.environmentwashington.org/news-releases/global-warming/global-warming-news/western-state-governors-announce-global-warming-agreement As the new home of WashPIRG's environmental work, Environment Washington can be contacted regarding this news release. WASHINGTON, DC— http://www.environmentwashington.org/news-releases/global-warming/global-warming-news/western-state-governors-announce-global-warming-agreement Thu, 12 Apr 2007 12:18:05 -0500 http://www.environmentwashington.org/news-releases/global-warming/global-warming-news/gregoire-sims-and-poulsen-announce-strong-climate-policy-initiatives As the new home of WashPIRG's environmental work, Environment Washington can be contacted regarding this news release. A http://www.environmentwashington.org/news-releases/global-warming/global-warming-news/gregoire-sims-and-poulsen-announce-strong-climate-policy-initiatives Thu, 12 Apr 2007 14:23:03 -0500 http://www.environmentwashington.org/news-releases/global-warming/global-warming-news/governor-gregoire-signs-landmark-clean-car-bill As the new home of WashPIRG's environmental work, Environment Washington can be contacted regarding this news release. In a bold stroke that will http://www.environmentwashington.org/news-releases/global-warming/global-warming-news/governor-gregoire-signs-landmark-clean-car-bill Thu, 12 Apr 2007 12:23:13 -0500