Continuing in the vein of preserving environmental protections this legislative session in Olympia, another goal of the Environmental Priorities Coalition is to fulfill our clean energy initiative. In 2006, Washington voters passed Initiative-937 to direct the state’s major electric utilities to foster energy conservation and to develop alternative renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power so as to increase the proportion of new clean energy sources to 15% by 2020. So far, more than $7 billion has been invested in renewable energy, resulting in more jobs, especially in struggling rural areas. Although some minor changes may be needed to make I-937 work more efficiently, the legislature must preserve the voters’ intent and keep state utilities on track to meet clean energy goals by 2020.
For more information, see www.environmental priorities.org
