Major emitters of greenhouse gases (GHG) in our state include fuel producers, fuel distributors, and natural gas companies. However, due to a recent Washington State Supreme Court ruling, the State’s Department of Ecology and local air quality authorities cannot regulate these important “indirect” sources of GHG unless the legislature provides the department with explicit statutory authority to do so.
HB 2892 (and companion bill SB 6628) addresses this limitation to addressing climate change. The bill:
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Revises the state Clean Air Act’s definition of “emission” and “emission standard” to include both direct and indirect emissions, allowing Ecology broader authority to regulate.
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Requires persons who produce or distribute fossil fuels in Washington to comply with air quality standards, emission standards, or emission limits on GHGs.
As of this writing, these bills are still active but facing some strong headwinds. The Senate version is stuck in the Rules Committee and the House version is being discussed in that body’s Appropriations Committee. Aides of bill sponsors in both the House and the Senate have suggested we first focus on getting the bill onto the House floor.
ACTION #1: Ask House Appropriations Committee Leadership to “unstick” HB 2892
[This action is extremely time sensitive! Calls should be made today, if possible.]
Tim Ormsby, Chair: 360-786-7946
June Robinson, 1st Vice Chair: 360-786-7864
Steve Berquist, 2nd Vice Chair: 360-786-7862
Sample Script:
Hello, my name is ____________ and I’m contacting you with regard to HB 2892, which I understand is in the House Appropriations Committee. This bill would grant the Department of Ecology authority to regulate both direct and indirect sources of greenhouse gas emissions. It provides an important tool for moving forward to address climate change, so I urge you to support passing it out of committee. Thank you.
ACTION #2: Contact your state senator and representatives and urge them to support this bill.
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Enter your home address to find your state lawmakers.
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Enter your contact information and verify your district.
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Don’t forget to click on the “support” button.
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Under the comment section urge your lawmakers to support the bill because it would expand the Department of Ecology’s ability to cap GHG emissions from a broad range of industries that currently are not being held accountable for their carbon output.
Background:
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EVENT:
Town Hall on Proposed Transit-Related Legislation for Seattle
Wednesday, March 11, 6-8 pm at El Centro de la Raza
As part of their “Orca for All” campaign, the Transit Riders Union (TRU) is holding its first Town Hall to discuss proposed legislation requiring large Seattle employers to subsidize transit for all their workers. District 2 Seattle City Councilmember Tammy Morales will co-host the event, and King County Councilmember Girmay Zahilay will also attend. For more information, see https://www.facebook.com/events/196512514774329/. If you are unable to attend the town hall, you can provide feedback on the basic proposal of employer-subsidized transit at transitriders.org/orcasurvey.
