{"id":2933,"date":"2024-03-28T11:31:42","date_gmt":"2024-03-28T18:31:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/senatedemocrats.wa.gov\/pedersen\/?p=2933"},"modified":"2024-04-01T10:08:14","modified_gmt":"2024-04-01T17:08:14","slug":"legislature-passes-new-environmental-protections","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/senatedemocrats.wa.gov\/pedersen\/2024\/03\/28\/legislature-passes-new-environmental-protections\/","title":{"rendered":"Legislature passes new environmental protections"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dear friends and neighbors,<\/p>\n

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.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n

Climate action<\/strong><\/h2>\n

In 2021, Washington became the second state in the nation to enact a limit on overall carbon emissions. Our state\u2019s groundbreaking\u00a0Climate Commitment Act<\/a> (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\u00a0are 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\u00a0new hydrogen hub<\/a>\u00a0\u2014 which is expected to create and support more than 10,000 good-paying jobs. This year\u2019s capital budget also includes $39 million from the CCA for energy upgrades at UW\u2019s three campuses, as well as at the UW Medical Center-Montlake and Northwest Hospital campuses. We also passed SB 6058<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n

New environmental protections<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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.<\/p>\n