Global Warming Solutions News

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/