Solar Washington

In 2006, many of you worked to pass the Clean Energy Initiative (I-937) and since then many of you have also taken action in past legislative sessions to protect it. As a result of your efforts, I-937 has been working as intended - encouraging the growth of clean renewable energy in Washington. However, with the 2011 legislative session underway in Olympia we need your help again. A crucial bill that would weaken I-937 is moving toward a vote on the floor of the Senate!

Tell your Senator to support new jobs for our state by voting no on SB 5575.  By contacting your legislators you can make the difference. With your support, we can continue to see the vision of I-937 realized.  I-937 is working as intended. Most utilities are meeting their targets for both renewable resources and cost-effective energy efficiency. Now is not the time to pass a bill that would weaken the law.

Washington voters passed I-937 to ensure that at least 15 percent of the electricity we get from major utilities comes from new renewable sources, including biomass. But the proposed Senate Bill 5575 would change I-937 to include existing 30-year old biomass resources to count toward the renewable energy standard. The effect would be a reduction in the amount of new renewable resources, like wind and solar, developed in our state.

The more that existing resources are added to the standard (over 100 megawatts in SB 5575), the fewer new energy developments and new jobs the Initiative will encourage. Our state legislature should be acting to promote new renewable energy development and jobs. SB 5575 will only stall clean energy growth and hamper our economic recovery.

Thanks for all you do to ensure a clean energy future for Washington!