Don’t put the brakes on our clean economy

On the same day the United Nations warned that global greenhouse gasses are the highest ever recorded, opponents of Washington’s Climate Commitment Act have taken another step in their effort to fossilize the status quo and repeal the CCA.

Governor Jay Inslee commented on the attempt, saying, 

“Washington state is not a climate denial place. It is a place that wants to fight climate change, and it wants to help Washingtonians get what they need, which is clean, reasonably priced, efficient energy, and that’s exactly what we’re doing.”

Clean & Prosperous Executive Director Michael Mann also weighed in:

“The Climate Commitment Act (CCA) has been in place for just over 10 months. This is not the time to put the brakes on Washington’s premier and effective climate policy that is backed by businesses, labor, tribes, community groups, and environmental organizations. It is not the time to deny the clear scientific evidence that more, not less, needs to be done to address climate change.

The CCA is our state’s engine for investments in clean energy and transportation infrastructure and is helping to create green jobs, reduce wildfires, improve air quality, and strengthen climate resiliency.

Incentives provided by the CCA support investments in electric ferries, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production, zero-emission trucks, and clean electric power to maintain a reliable grid and meet future growth.

The CCA carefully balances the needs of our region for environmental sustainability and economic growth. The coalition, including job-creating, leading Washington companies, are committed to defending the Climate Commitment Act.”

Sen. Joe Nguyễn (D-White Center), chair of the Senate Environment, Energy & Technology Committee, and Sen. Marko Liias (D-Everett), Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, today affirmed the Legislature’s commitment to combating climate change and moving toward a clean energy future. In a statement, the legislators noted how, 

“Investments made possible by the Climate Commitment Act are already supporting alternative fuels and electric vehicles, helping farmers and low-income households with energy efficiency upgrades like heat pumps and solar panels, protecting forestlands and watersheds, transit options and bike/pedestrian safety improvements, attracting major investments to Washington state like the new hydrogen hub — which is expected to create and support more than 10,000 good-paying jobs — and much more.”

“The investments funded by the Climate Commitment Act are already providing major benefits to the people of Washington,” Nguyễn said. “Washington is leading the way to a cleaner, greener future, and we can’t stop our climate progress. We need to defeat climate change and rein in the pollution that the oil and gas industry is causing across our state and nation —the Climate Commitment Act is how we make that happen.”

“Our Move Ahead Washington package is a comprehensive, 15-year vision for our state to reduce traffic congestion, expand transit and mobility options, and fix potholes and preserve aging bridges. The Climate Commitment Act is the foundation of these investments, without it all of these critical investments are at risk,” Liias said. “Right as our economy is beginning to recover from the pandemic, we shouldn’t jeopardize this progress. Washington families can’t afford to spend more time stuck in traffic or blocked by a failing bridge, and our kids can’t keep breathing polluted air.”

As the UN Report says, “The next decade will shape our future.”

The CCA gives Washington state a head start on shaping a cleaner, more prosperous future. Let’s keep our foot off the brake, and instead accelerate ahead together.