2009 Environmental Priorities

The 2009 Environmental Priorities are focused on promoting a vibrant and growing green economy. Now is the time to create new jobs, build new infrastructure, and promote new economic stimulus in a way that will drive us towards healthier, more efficient, and more livable communities.

To this end, three of our Priorities propose critical next steps for state-level action to meet our climate change goals. The other Priority would help raise new revenue for clean water and pollution prevention.

The 2009 Environmental Priorities are:

Cap and Invest
By implementing real limits on global warming pollution, we can create new jobs and stimulate the growth of a clean energy economy here in Washington State. This effort implements the cap on climate pollution the Legislature adopted last year. Emitters would pay for pollution permits, and the new revenue would be invested to reduce fossil fuel dependence, create green jobs and spur new clean-tech innovation, while providing assistance to moderate- and low-income households struggling with high energy costs. Through state action, we can reduce global warming pollution in a manner that benefits Washington’s economy, protects Washington’s interests in the national climate policy debate. and positions us for success in the new clean energy economy.

Efficiency First
Promoting energy efficient homes, businesses and public institutions will save money, enhance energy security, and significantly reduce global-warming pollution. Energy efficiency is the cheapest and most immediate way to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and will create thousands of good, family-wage jobs in Washington.  This bill will put “efficiency first” by promoting super-efficient, low-energy-use buildings, providing incentives to maximize energy efficiency, requiring energy use information on buildings offered for sale or lease; and making our public buildings models of energy efficiency. This policy will also help to ensure that low-income consumers can cope with rising energy costs.

Transit-Oriented Communities
Washingtonians want to live in affordable, walkable and transit-oriented communities.  With population growth, we are facing increased traffic congestion, diminished quality of life, and ever-increasing greenhouse gas emissions. Transit-Oriented Communities would revise the state’s transportation and land-use planning framework to assist local jurisdictions to plan for growth in a sustainable and climate-friendly way. The bill will provide incentives for cities and developers to create affordable, livable, transit-oriented development, increasing transportation choices.

Invest in Clean Water
From Puget Sound to the Spokane River, clean water is Washington’s lifeblood and our communities can’t thrive without it.  This package of targeted polluter-pays fees will protect the taxpaying public and ensure that polluters take responsibility for the impacts of their actions.  The effort will raise new revenue to fund critical projects to save Puget Sound and restore Washington’s rivers and lakes.  By investing in stormwater infrastructure, toxics prevention and other programs, we create new jobs, relieve financial pressure on local government, and promote new economic stimulus.