State action on climate change is the right idea

One of the most significant bills of the 2008 legislative session is the measure requiring the state Department of Ecology to develop a plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions and build a strong “green collar” workforce.

House Bill 2815 builds on a bill passed a year ago that advocated a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 and to increase clean-energy jobs. This year’s legislation makes those goals firm requirements.

Gov. Chris Gregoire, who had requested the legislation, said, “I’m very pleased that the state Legislature has taken action to address the largest threat to our environment and economy. Global climate change is the greatest challenge our generation and future generations face; we must take bold steps to address it now.”

The bill was passed by the Senate on a largely party-line vote of 29-19, with only two Democrats joining minority Republicans in opposition. The House vote was 64-31.

Gregoire promised a quick signature into law. “This bill will help guide Washington state in working toward a cleaner environmental future and sustainable economic development by laying the groundwork for creating green-collar jobs,” she said.

Ideally, the fight against greenhouse gas emissions would be waged at the national level. But as we’ve seen with the federal government’s continued refusal to impose strong emission standards on automobiles — to the point of blocking tough state standards — that waiting for the federal government to act is futile. Going into the legislative session, Ecology director Jay Manning, co-chairman of the state’s Climate Advisory Team, said: “Who knows how long it will take for the feds to get their act together on this. We’re going full steam ahead until there is a federal program.”

That’s the right approach and one endorsed by the governor and Legislature.

Manning said, “It’s a very significant step forward, absolutely fundamental to be doing what we need to do in this state to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in a way that doesn’t damage the economy. This bill is a great combination of doing the right thing by the environment and doing the right thing by the economy.”

Opponents argued that HB 2815 would lead to an unfair mandate on how people live and commute to work. “They’re gonna tell you what size car you’re gonna drive, when you’re gonna drive it, what size house you’ll live in, how big that house is gonna be, and how much electricity you’re going to use,” said Sen. Jerome Delvin, R-Richland.

But Sen. Rosa Franklin, D-Tacoma, had the better argument, saying, “No one likes change. Change is going to take place and we need to prepare for it.”

The measure directs the state to add 25,000 “green collar” jobs by 2020. The green jobs initiative would set up a special state account that gives grants for training and other programs to encourage clean-energy businesses. As Franklin said, “The green economy will be the new economy. If we do not prepare for it, we will be left behind.”

The next year will be the true test as the action team formulates concrete plans on how to achieve the new goals. That’s when we’ll know the true sacrifices necessary to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, shift from a fossil-fuel economy and create “green collar” jobs.

Manning said it best: “The cost of inaction dwarfs the cost of action.”