WA House approves Gregoire climate blueprint

DATELINE: OLYMPIA Wash.

House lawmakers have approved Gov. Chris Gregoire's plan to set limits on Washington's greenhouse gas emissions, another step in the state's long-term drive to curb the causes of climate change.

The measure, which also directs the state to add 25,000 "green collar" jobs by 2020, was the last bill to clear the House by Tuesday's deadline for policy measures. The 64-31 vote sends the bill to the Senate for further consideration.

During debate, Rep. Hans Dunshee, D-Snohomish, said lawmakers had a choice: Try to seize control of climate-changing emissions by approving the bill, or "sit and do nothing, and suffer the consequences of inaction and the status quo."

Republicans, however, bridled at the bill's strict emission limits and the possible effect on business. Even GOP supporters like Rep. Glenn Anderson, R-Fall City, criticized what they saw as a heavy-handed approach by government.

"If we jam it down their throats, we will lose both the confidence of the citizenry, and we will not accomplish the changes that we need to help our planet," Anderson said.

The bill builds on work already started by the Legislature and Gregoire's Climate Advisory Team.

It has five major points, led by orders for the state Ecology Department to make dramatic cuts in Washington's greenhouse gas emissions. The agency's eventual blueprint must find a way to curb emissions by 70 percent of expected levels in 2050.

Ecology regulators also would set up an emissions reporting system, for industries that annually produce 10,000 metric tons of greenhouse gases and vehicle fleets that emit at least 2,500 metric tons per year. The first reports would be due in 2010, with deferrals possible for interstate transport businesses.

At the same time, the Transportation Department would set up recommendations for cutting in half the annual per capita vehicle miles traveled by 2050.

The green jobs initiative would set up a special state account that gives grants for training and other programs to encourage clean-energy businesses.

Washington officials are also authorized to work with the Western Climate Initiative, a partnership of six states and two Canadian provinces, in developing a regional cap-and-trade system aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions across the West.

The bill's definition of greenhouse gases includes carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide. Such gases essentially trap energy from the sun, which warms the Earth's surface and lower atmosphere. Many scientists believe human activity that increases those gases is contributing to global warming.

K.C. Golden, policy director for the environmental group Climate Solutions, said some of the state's existing environmental initiatives are enough to get the state about halfway to its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020.

While the bill approved in the House on Tuesday doesn't yet offer any solutions for meeting the larger reduction standards, it offers a way forward, he said.

"It's about charting the course, making a good, strong legal commitment to get it done," Golden said.

Earlier in the day, the Senate passed a measure allowing local governments to address climate change through their plans on land use and transportation. The measure passed on a 31-18 vote after a heated debate, and now heads to the House.

Under the bill, a local government global warming mitigation and adaptation program is set up and run by the Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development. At least three counties and six cities would compete to participate in the program, and receive technical and financial assistance from the department.

Supporters said it will help local governments who want to be proactive about climate change issues; opponents argued that it would lead to an unfair mandate on how people live and commute to work.

The climate change bill is House Bill 2815. The climate change growth management bill is Senate Bill 6580.

On the Net:

Legislature: http://www.leg.wa.gov

Governor: http://www.governor.wa.gov