This Washington
Afternoon Fizz: TransAlta Deal in the Works
UPDATE (Saturday):
According to a senate amendment offered today by bill sponsor Sen. Phil Rockefeller (D-23, Bainbridge Island), a deal has been struck between environmentalists and TransAlta: The company will close one coal boiler by 2020 and a second by 2025. And The Centralia plant will have to reduce emissions of nitrous oxide by 2013.
Perhaps, the biggest deal, though: The company has agreed to pay $55 million into an economic development fund starting in 2021 to help transition the community; the plant currently has 300 employees.
"It's progress," says Rep. Marko Liias (D-21, Edmonds), sponsor of the bill on the house side, which initially came with a $94 million fund (and ended the company's $5 million annual tax break), but was replaced by a neutered senate version that came without a clear transition fund or shutdown date.
“Clean air and water have always been my top priority. And this compromise goes a long way towards protecting our environment and preserving good jobs. I’m glad to see TransAlta has agreed to this solution, which will provide $55 million towards the local community and economy.”
Washington Environmental Council lobbyist Cliff Traisman says, "We have an agreement. It's a win for the environment and the public. It's a win for the community. And it's a win for the public."
ORIGINAL POST
We could have a serious Friday Afternoon Jolt coming up here. We are hearing from multiple sources that an agreement between environmentalists and TransAlta is imminent.
Legislation is in play this session to phase TransAlta's controversial electricity plant (the number one single-point greenhouse gas culprit in the state) off coal. The timing of the phase-out and a community transition fund for public works projects have been sticking points.
Ironically, after a tougher shutdown bill —including a $94 million transition fund (to begin ASAP)—got killed in the house by TransAlta and anxious community members concerned about the nearly 300 jobs, a more conservative senate version (no hard dates and an ill-defined community fund starting in eight years) caused local leaders, including the Executive Director of the Lewis County Economic Development Council, to change their tune and urge senators to tack back to the house approach.
I'll report back when I have more details.
According to a senate amendment offered today by bill sponsor Sen. Phil Rockefeller (D-23, Bainbridge Island), a deal has been struck between environmentalists and TransAlta: The company will close one coal boiler by 2020 and a second by 2025. And The Centralia plant will have to reduce emissions of nitrous oxide by 2013.
Perhaps, the biggest deal, though: The company has agreed to pay $55 million into an economic development fund starting in 2021 to help transition the community; the plant currently has 300 employees.
"It's progress," says Rep. Marko Liias (D-21, Edmonds), sponsor of the bill on the house side, which initially came with a $94 million fund (and ended the company's $5 million annual tax break), but was replaced by a neutered senate version that came without a clear transition fund or shutdown date.
“Clean air and water have always been my top priority. And this compromise goes a long way towards protecting our environment and preserving good jobs. I’m glad to see TransAlta has agreed to this solution, which will provide $55 million towards the local community and economy.”
Washington Environmental Council lobbyist Cliff Traisman says, "We have an agreement. It's a win for the environment and the public. It's a win for the community. And it's a win for the public."
ORIGINAL POST
We could have a serious Friday Afternoon Jolt coming up here. We are hearing from multiple sources that an agreement between environmentalists and TransAlta is imminent.
Legislation is in play this session to phase TransAlta's controversial electricity plant (the number one single-point greenhouse gas culprit in the state) off coal. The timing of the phase-out and a community transition fund for public works projects have been sticking points.
Ironically, after a tougher shutdown bill —including a $94 million transition fund (to begin ASAP)—got killed in the house by TransAlta and anxious community members concerned about the nearly 300 jobs, a more conservative senate version (no hard dates and an ill-defined community fund starting in eight years) caused local leaders, including the Executive Director of the Lewis County Economic Development Council, to change their tune and urge senators to tack back to the house approach.
I'll report back when I have more details.
