Clean energy breakthrough?

Environment Washington applauded members of our state’s congressional delegation for their role in the Dec. 6 U.S. House vote on clean energy legislation. The bill would have required utilities to get 15 percent of their energy from clean, renewable sources and raised the gas mileage standards to 35 miles per gallon. We backed both steps, most notably by building support to make sure the 15 percent renewable energy standard stayed in the final bill.  

Unfortunately, in the face of veto threats from the White House and powerful opposition from oil and coal interests, the Senate pulled the plug on the renewable standard. At press time, the fate of the gas mileage provision, which would cut 424 million tons of global warming pollution by 2030, was uncertain. Along with our allies across the nation, we’ll keep fighting for both provisions until they become law.