WA State Governor Gregoire Continues to Fight Climate Change
New Law Sets Goals to Reduce Emissions Over the Next 40 Years
Gregoire said the new law means Washington is attacking climate change with "no more delay, no more doubt, no more excuses. Today, together, we take action."
The law establishes an emissions performance standard for electric generation facilities in Washington, committing to low emissions resources that can meet our state's future needs. The bill establishes state goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and sets a goal for creating new jobs in the clean energy sector.
This law is part of Gregoire's announced "Climate Change Challenge". She has set many specific goals for Washington state, which will reverse our contributions toclimate pollution. In addition, we can move away from our over-dependence on foreign oil and we can grow a clean energy economy .
The bill was generally well-supported. The only criticism came from opponents questioned the science behind global warming and warned that families would end up paying unnecessarily higher electricity bills as a result. Some critics contend that it is a step in the right direction, but not enough. In February, Governor Gregoire signed an executive order establishing goals for reductions in climate pollution, increases in jobs, and reductions in expenditures on imported fuel.
"We have all seen the science and we must increase our efforts to respond," said Governor Gregoire. "Washington is uniquely vulnerable to the changing climate, but we are also positioned to succeed in the clean energy economy. We have already taken steps to strengthen emission standards, build the biofuels industry and promote renewable sources of energy. With these next steps, I believe we can reduce our climate pollution, grow jobs and move toward energy independence."
Washington has already experienced a decreasing snow pack, lower summer stream flows, more wildfires and rising sea levels. Washington depends on snow pack for fresh water for its cities, agriculture and salmon, relies on hydropower for energy and features a significant amount of shoreline. Recent projections by the UW Climate Impacts Group show the Ports of Seattle, Tacoma and Olympia underwater if the Greenland ice sheets .
For more information about climate change as it affects Washington state, and what you can do to get involved, visit http://www.ecy.wa.gov/climatechange/index.htm
Published by Lynn Glessner
Recently left the IT field to become a SAHM with two kids, multiple pets, and one man-child running a music production business. View profile
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- Reduce energy use at home by adding insulation or purchasing energy efficient appliances
- Purchase compact fluorescent lights and adjust your thermostat
- Plant trees and vegetation
1 Comments
Post a CommentDear Editor, May 9/07
Recent research by Henrik Svensmark and his group at the Danish National
Space Center points to the real cause of the recent warming trend. In a
series of experiments on the formation of clouds, these scientists have
shown that fluctuations in the Sun's output cause the observed changes in the
Earth's temperature.
In the past, scientists believed the fluctuations in the Sun's output were
too small to cause the observed amount of temperature change, hence the need
to look for other causes like carbon dioxide. However, these new
experiments show that fluctuations in the Sun's output are in fact large
enough, so there is no longer a need to resort to carbon dioxide as the
cause of the recent warming trend.
The discovery of the real cause of the recent increase in the Earth's
temperature is indeed a convenient truth. It means humans are not to blame
for the increase. It also means there i