Climate Action in the Pacific Northwest
Washington State’s legislature ended the 2019 session by passing a strong suite of climate policies, sending Gov. Jay Inslee a number of bills that place the state in a true leadership position in clean energy. Successful policies of note include bills focused on 100 percent clean electricity (SB 5116), super pollutant mitigation (HB 1112), building decarbonization (HB1257), EV incentives (HB 2042), and energy efficiency (HB 1444). As in other states, the economic and jobs benefits of clean energy and climate action were key to the legislative wins in Washington. E2’s Clean Jobs Washington report and other data from E2 was cited by numerous advocates and media outlets — including the Seattle Times and Gov. Inslee on Twitter.
Moving south, Oregon continues to advance a cap and trade carbon pricing proposal and E2 continues to leverage our network of business leaders and economic data to cement support. The bill has recently taken a number of amendments that have largely strengthened the policy. Last week, in anticipation of the bill’s arrival to the Ways and Means committee, E2 took nine members and supporters to Salem to meet with 12 target lawmakers and their staff as well as the head of the Governor’s Carbon Policy Office. The delegation had productive conversations and shared the opportunity presented to rural Oregon by HB 2020 by highlighting two recent E2 opinion pieces, one in the Portland Business Journal and one in The Oregonian. With numerous E2 advocacy trips during the 2019 session and a support letter signed by over 80 Oregon business leaders, E2 has continued to bring the business voice to bear in Oregon.
We are excited to see this bill across the finish line and expect a floor vote in early June.
