“Co-opetition” with California
The Washington state legislature is in session!
In Olympia, decisions are being made about carbon caps, timelines, and investment allocations. We at Clean & Prosperous Washington are working with decision-makers to provide data-based analyses as well as real-world lessons, such as those we gleaned from our recent study mission to California.
“Never doubt that a small group of states banding together can change the nation.”
—DAVID GIULIANI, founder of Clean & Prosperous Washington
We hosted a delegation of more than 80 policy experts and community stakeholders from Washington and California on a study mission in Sacramento, to see firsthand how California’s climate legislation is working to reduce carbon emissions in that state while increasing economic activity.
Especially relevant to the current discussions in Olympia were two highlights:
- A presentation by Houston Magnani & Associates about Innovations in cement making. As an energy-intensive, trade-exposed industry (EITE), the cement industry is a regulated party in California and will be in Washington. Magnani described how the cement industry has worked with regulators to determine a path to carbon neutrality for the industry by 2045, including identifying the challenges with mitigating process emissions.
- A visit to Pacific Coast Producers. Thanks to a Cap-and-Trade grant, PCP was able to build a 94-foot-tall evaporator that has saved 85% in steam usage for tomato processing, for 19,000 MT CO2 annual savings. This project demonstrates the potential economy-boosting and carbon-reducing benefits possible with further investments.
These, among many other learnings, help us to optimize climate policy in our state — to both cooperate and compete with California and other states. We can share lessons and learn from each other, while also working to build the clean economy of the future faster and better. And by linking with other jurisdictions we can lower costs, develop common methodologies, and address leakage risk.
“We have benefited as much from our relationships with Oregon, Washington and British Columbia as you have benefited from us. We are learning all the time. We are getting stronger by virtue of engagement with others. That’s why I’m so energized by the work that you are doing in Washington.” Richard Corey, California Air Resources Board (CARB) Executive Officer