Dear friends and neighbors,

As climate change continues to threaten our health and natural environment in Washington, we must adapt, mitigate, and be better prepared for heat waves, flooding, wildfires, and drought that scientists warn are inevitable. And we must continue to lead other states and countries toward a clean energy future that will avoid the worst damage.  This session, the Legislature continued to make critical investments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect our water resources, forests, infrastructure, agriculture, and human health.

Climate action

In 2021, Washington became the second state in the nation to enact a limit on overall carbon emissions. Our state’s groundbreaking Climate Commitment Act (CCA) creates a statewide cap-and-invest program to cut carbon pollution and requires emitters to pay for emissions allowances equal to their covered greenhouse gas emissions. The investments made possible by the CCA are already supporting alternative fuels and electric vehicles, helping farmers and low-income households with energy efficiency upgrades such as heat pumps and solar panels; protecting forestlands and watersheds; increasing transit options; making bike and pedestrian safety improvements; and attracting major investments to Washington state. One of those investments is the new hydrogen hub — which is expected to create and support more than 10,000 good-paying jobs. This year’s capital budget also includes $39 million from the CCA for energy upgrades at UW’s three campuses, as well as at the UW Medical Center-Montlake and Northwest Hospital campuses. We also passed SB 6058 to take initial steps to link Washington’s carbon market with the joint California-Quebec carbon market. A larger carbon market will create greater stability, predictability, and consistency for Washington consumers, businesses, utilities, and institutions.

New environmental protections

The Legislature also acted on a wide array of other environmental issues this session, including the development of new clean energy resources, the protection of critical habitats, and innovative waste reduction.

  • HB 1589 supports the transition to clean energy by providing a planning process for the consolidation of Puget Sound Energy’s electric and gas systems, and supports much-needed infrastructure investments with long-term forecasting and predictability.
  • SB 6039 and HB 2131 help develop Washington’s geothermal energy sector.
  • SB 5931 adds 6PPD — a chemical used in many car and truck tires that can kill salmon when it runs off of roads and into our rivers and waterways — to the “Safer Products for Washington” list so the state can require manufacturers to use safer alternatives.
  • SB 5884 expands the ability of courts to address environmental harms by allowing a judge to impose fines for damages to the environment when someone is found guilty of violations related to water pollution, air pollution, and hazardous waste management.
  • SB 6121 improves forest and farmland management by allowing the Department of Natural Resources to issue permits for flame cap kilns that can convert agricultural and forest management waste into biochar.
  • HB 2301 supports our composting and waste management efforts to reduce the amount of food waste going into the garbage.
  • HB 1185 bans the sale of mercury-containing lights beginning in 2029 and establishes a product stewardship organization for recovery and disposal of the bulbs at the end of their useful lives.
  • HB 1551 protects people from accidental lead poisoning by restricting the manufacture, distribution, and sale of cookware that contains lead in dangerous quantities.
  • HB 2207 will help deter illegal waste dumping in our forests by imposing larger fines and funding clean-up efforts.
  • HB 1153 prohibits octopus farming in Washington.

I’m proud of that our state is leader in the fight against climate change and continues to put important protections in place to keep our natural environment healthy. Thanks for taking the time to read my newsletter. I will continue to send updates on key legislation passed during this year’s legislative session. If you missed my previous updates on gun safety or public education, they are available on my website. Please reach out with any questions at Jamie.Pedersen@leg.wa.gov.

Best,

Jamie