JUUstice Washington

A Unitarian Universalist State Action Network

SB 5126 Climate Commitment Act

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JUUstice WA has not made the Climate Commitment Act a priority because there is some opposition from frontline communities on equity issues (see the detailed hearings report, below).  Some members have asked about the bill, so it is described here. It passed the legislature with amendments to meet some of the objections of frontline communities.

The “Cap and Invest” program directs Department of Ecology to set a cap on emissions and set rules for compliance. Allowances are used to invest in clean energy projects. By 2022 Ecology must set caps and rules for allowances. Reductions begin in 2023 and are made more stringent during each period. The caps are set on a sliding scale according RCW 70.235 as follows:

  • By 2030, reduce overall emissions of GHGs in the state to 45 percent below 1990 levels,

or 50 MMT.

  • By 2040, reduce overall emissions of GHGs in the state to 70 percent below 1990 levels,

or 27 MMT.

  • By 2050, reduce overall emissions of GHGs in the state to 95 percent below 1990 levels,

or 5 MMT, and achieve net-zero GHG emissions.

In the legislature, amendments were introduced to make implementation of the law contingent on passing a 5 cents per gallon gas tax. But Governor Inslee, who has line-item veto authority, vetoed that section of the law so it is no longer contingent on the gas tax.

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There’s a Right Track and a Wrong Track for the Future of WA State Rail

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Tom White, one of the lead authors of the Amtrak Cascades LRP, and Solutionary Rail Project Lead Bill Moyer, wrote this article about the future of rail in our State:

by Thomas White and Bill Moyer

Washington state has two potential tracks toward a 21st century rail future, with starkly different outcomes.

One provides higher speed, climate-friendly passenger service linking as many as 13 communities on the Cascadia corridor, with increased capacity for freight trains. It has been in development since 1991 and some elements have already been completed. It would provide clean, electrified Amtrak Cascades passenger service at up to 110mph along existing lines. The phased effort would rapidly create jobs, upgrade service and cut carbon pollution. It could be completed in a decade.

Tragically, this shovel-ready plan is being ignored while another flashy vision grabs the spotlight. That is the “ultra-high-speed rail” (UHSR) project proposed by Washington State Governor Jay Inslee’s administration and developed by WSP, a giant engineering firm. It offers a maximum of five stops along the route. To facilitate speeds up to 220mph, it would require an entirely new passenger-only corridor acquired through costly land acquisitions and the controversial use of eminent domain, with many environmental challenges. While science tells us we need to dramatically cut carbon pollution this decade, UHSR would take many years before the first track is put on the ground and decades more to completion — if it happens at all.

READ THE REST OF THE ARTICLE

The Amtrak Cascades Long Range Plan (LRP) can deliver a proportionate, achievable and impactful transportation solution for our State. And it can serve as a Solutionary Rail pilot project, a huge step for lowering greenhouse gas emissions, tire and air pollution, congestion, wear and tear, and much more.

@Washingtonians: there’s still time to reach out to State Legislators & ask that the Amtrak Cascades LRP be funded.

Please, if you haven’t done so yet, contact your two state Representatives AND your state Senator, asking for:

  1. State funding to update the Amtrak Cascades Long Range Plan
  2. Legislators to work with WSDOT to request that Federal Railroad Administration grant programs be generously funded by the federal government.

Send this letter (“Legislative Sponsors Needed”) by email:

  • Click to download the suggested text
  • Copy and paste the subject line and text
  • Send today to each of your State legislators

More info HERE

If you write to your elected officials, please fill out the form at the bottom of the page HERE (or send an email to info@solutionaryrail.org with the names of legislators you contacted) so we can track who has been contacted. If you hear back, please let us know. If your legislator asks for additional info, we can put them in contact with experts to answer all their questions.

Let’s do this, Washington!

Carbon Pollution Bill SB 5373 “Washington Strong”

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While SB 5373 is not one of the environmental priorities identified at the Justice Summit, a number of people have expressed interest in the bill. The bill appears to be dead for the session, but there is some possibility of its revival in the budget negotiations. Information below provides some background and notes on a hearing on March 4, 2021.

Provisions of the bill:

  • It imposes a carbon pollution tax beginning January 1, 2022, equal to $25 per metric ton of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on the sale or use of all fossil fuel within the state of Washington, except for the sale or use of electricity in Washington generated using fossil fuels.
  • It increases the tax rate annually by inflation, as measured by the consumer price index, plus 5 percent beginning July 1, 2023.
  • It establishes a ten-year climate finance program using carbon tax revenue and a bond program to reduce GHG emissions and increase the resilience of Washington’s natural resources to the impacts of climate change

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Town Halls are Opportunities to Meet with Legislators

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At this point in the legislative session, it would be a good idea to meet with your legislators to discuss pending legislation. Most legislators are scheduling town halls online, and you can find out when at the Washington Conservation Voter website. Some will let you ask questions beforehand, which is a good opportunity to discuss our legislative priorities. Here are some of the priorities we discussed in the Justice Summit.

  • Environmental priorities: Fluorinated Gases, Clean Fuels, Growth Management Act, Building Electrification.
  • Racial Justice priorities: Insurance fairness act, Healthy Environment for All (HEAL) act.
  • Criminal Justice priorities: Legal Financial Obligations.