Editor’s Note:Whatcom Watch does not endorse candidates or ballot issues.
by Jayne Freudenberger
Departing a bit from all good climate news I usually cover for the League of Women Voter’s column (see Climate Good News), I also want to write about a very good thing that might go away if voters right here in Washington aren’t informed and vigilant.
In 2021, a cadre of environmentally minded legislators hammered out the Climate Commitment Act (CCA) putting money and ideas together to stem the relentless march of climate change. It will play a clear role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 45 percent in 2030 and by 95 percent by 2050.
Sounds great, right? But how will this happen? It puts a cap on climate pollution that goes down over time. The state’s largest polluters have the option to update their operations so they pollute less or purchase pollution allowances through quarterly auctions. Legislators then invest these funds in fossil-free options for transportation, energy, heating and more. The cap gets tighter each year, incentivizing polluters to clean up their act or pay higher and higher fees.
Transportation and Buildings
The state has collected $2.2 billion from the first quarterly auctions. For the 2022-2025 biennium, the Legislature dedicated the majority of these funds towards transportation and buildings, which are the two major sources of pollution in Washington state.
Did the polluters jack up their gas prices … Probably so. However, gas prices have retreated, and, if the proposal to join California and Quebec‘s carbon markets passes the 2025 Legislature, the carbon allowance price could go down by almost half — thus making the argument over higher gas prices moot. Even then, we will have a sustainable stream of revenue for making the needed investments in clean energy, clean air and clean water.
Here are just a few of the $223 billion clean transportation projects:
- Community electric vehicle charging infrastructure
- Converting three Jumbo Mark II ferries to hybrid electric
- Rail electrification and shore power at ports
- Public transit grants and free transit for youth under 18
Clean buildings received $528 million for things like:
- Assisting low-income households and businesses with heat pump installations, and electrification
- Assisting our state higher education facilities to transition from fossil fuels
Even more important, at least 42 percent of the monies went to communities and tribes that experience the most harm from climate change. This is only the beginning … so why would we want to vote Yes on I-2117, which would repeal the Climate Commitment Act and discontinue all these programs. Once they know the truth, most citizens wouldn’t.
Stop Greed
There are four initiatives on the ballot that are funded by a hedge fund manager who paid signature gatherers to get these on the ballot. I am sticking to my climate issue in this piece, but be aware — if any of the four initiatives is passed, once again the very rich will escape taxes, leaving the middle class to bear the burden of higher taxes to fund not only climate solutions, but basic services.
The other initiative affecting our climate goals is I-2066, which rolls back Puget Sound Energy’s ability to transition from fossil fuels to clean energy. It undermines our communities’ ability to develop climate-resistant buildings. Also, the initiative would undermine the state building code council which spent years updating the building code based on new technologies. These advances have resulted in a 35 to 40 percent drop in energy use across the United States. Contrary to the deceptive rhetoric, it does not prohibit gas use in new buildings.
The Northwest has been spared some of the most egregious climate disasters, although we certainly have experienced wildfires and floods. Global warming definitely impacts our salmon fisheries and beloved orcas. Do we want to destroy our main hope for fighting climate change? I think not.
Please Vote No on I-2117 and I-2066
We can’t afford them. More than 350 Washington state organizations and Tribal Nations oppose I-2117 and I-2066. Over 400 organizations prefer voting “No” on I-2117. These include: The League of Women Voters Bellingham/Whatcom County, the LWVWA, Nature Conservancy, Climate Solutions, WA State Firefighters Association, WA Construction and Building Association, Amazon, Washington Education Association, Microsoft, Sierra Club, WA State Labor Council, Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians, WA State Medical Association, Orca Network and more.
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Jayne Freudenberger has been active in the League of Women Voters as the local president, a WA state board member, and a local advocacy chair working on climate issues. She was the LWV’s representative in the coalition against the coal terminal proposed for Cherry Point, and is passionate about making the world better for her grandchildren.
