This Washington
Environmentalists Outline Legislative Agenda for 2011 Session
After a so-so showing last year, environmental advocates have identified their agenda items for the 2011 legislative session in Olympia. They are: Phasing the TransAlta coal-fired plant off coal; cleaning up stormwater runoff around the state; restricting the use of phosphorous-based fertilizer; and protecting basic environmental programs in this year's shaky budget.
Two of these are repeats from last year's official agenda: 1) cleaning up stormwater runoff and 2) protecting green programs. They lost on the first item—a proposed hazardous substance tax on oil companies that would have funded stormwater cleanup failed last year.
Surprisingly, given last year's budget shortfall, environmental lobbyists were able to protect core programs at the Department of Ecology, the state's environmental regulatory agency, from getting axed. But given this year's shortfall—$900 million for the remainder of the current biennium and more than $5.5 billion for the next biennium, protecting programs at Ecology is part of the game plan once again.
Transitioning TransAlta's Centralia plant off coal is not only a new official agenda item (it's been a hot topic for green lobbyists for a while), it's also a direct affront to Governor Chris Gregoire. She is currently in negotiations with the company to phase out its reliance on coal—the plant is the number one single source of greenhouse-gas pollution in the state. The environmental community, which says the talks are going nowhere, has long insisted that the plant transition away from coal by 2015. Gregoire's talks with the company are focused on 2025.
Last year, liberal state Sen. Eric Oemig (D-45) pushed legislation that would have ended a $4 to $5 million annual tax break for the company, but Gregoire killed that idea out of respect for the ongoing talks. (Oemig lost the election this year.)
Addressing an issue that dogged environmentalists last year—namely, that green issues aren't viewed with the same urgency as economic issues during a recession—Craig Benjamin, spokesman for the Environmental Priorities Coalition says:
What jobs is Benjamin talking about? He says "shovel-ready" stormwater cleanup projects will fund infrastructure projects. He also says the TransAlta effort will focus on creating jobs in Lewis County—home of the plant—rather than simply demanding a transition away from coal. (The plant is the biggest employer in the community.)
Benjamin says a number of legislators have expressed interest in sponsoring a TransAlta bill.
Two of these are repeats from last year's official agenda: 1) cleaning up stormwater runoff and 2) protecting green programs. They lost on the first item—a proposed hazardous substance tax on oil companies that would have funded stormwater cleanup failed last year.
Surprisingly, given last year's budget shortfall, environmental lobbyists were able to protect core programs at the Department of Ecology, the state's environmental regulatory agency, from getting axed. But given this year's shortfall—$900 million for the remainder of the current biennium and more than $5.5 billion for the next biennium, protecting programs at Ecology is part of the game plan once again.
Transitioning TransAlta's Centralia plant off coal is not only a new official agenda item (it's been a hot topic for green lobbyists for a while), it's also a direct affront to Governor Chris Gregoire. She is currently in negotiations with the company to phase out its reliance on coal—the plant is the number one single source of greenhouse-gas pollution in the state. The environmental community, which says the talks are going nowhere, has long insisted that the plant transition away from coal by 2015. Gregoire's talks with the company are focused on 2025.
Last year, liberal state Sen. Eric Oemig (D-45) pushed legislation that would have ended a $4 to $5 million annual tax break for the company, but Gregoire killed that idea out of respect for the ongoing talks. (Oemig lost the election this year.)
Addressing an issue that dogged environmentalists last year—namely, that green issues aren't viewed with the same urgency as economic issues during a recession—Craig Benjamin, spokesman for the Environmental Priorities Coalition says:
We are taking a very realistic and pragmatic approach this year, and have crafted priorities that will spur the creation of thousands of good-paying jobs while helping to protect our environment; win-wins for both the economy and the environment. Honestly, it’s even more important during these difficult times for our leaders in Olympia to make smart decisions that support our economy and protect the environment, and that’s what we’re proposing to work with them to accomplish this session.
What jobs is Benjamin talking about? He says "shovel-ready" stormwater cleanup projects will fund infrastructure projects. He also says the TransAlta effort will focus on creating jobs in Lewis County—home of the plant—rather than simply demanding a transition away from coal. (The plant is the biggest employer in the community.)
Benjamin says a number of legislators have expressed interest in sponsoring a TransAlta bill.
