Tumwater City Council votes unanimously to oppose I-2117. Here’s why
Tumwater City Council voted unanimously this week on a resolution to oppose Initiative No. 2117, stating passage of the measure would undo years of work the city has done to address climate change.
The initiative is one of several that Washington residents will vote on this November.
The initiative concerns carbon tax credit trading. It would decrease funding for investments in transportation, clean air, renewable energy, conservation and emissions reduction.
That’s because the measure would prohibit state agencies from imposing any type of carbon tax credit trading, and repeal legislation establishing a cap and invest program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Council member Eileen Swarthout said at the council’s Tuesday meeting that she represents Tumwater on the countywide Climate Mitigation Team. She said the city is continuing to make progress, and it’s difficult to make progress without the proper funding.
Swarthout said the council continues to hear from constituents that they’re not doing enough, fast enough, and it’s all about funding and strategic planning.
Council member Michael Althauser said he thinks saying “No” is a really important statement for the council to make.
“We don’t typically weigh in on state measures, when there are state initiatives on the ballot,” he said. “But I thought that this was an important one for us to bring forward because we have a lot to lose today and we’ve got even more to lose tomorrow.”
Area resident Jim Lazar spoke during a public hearing in opposition to the initiative. He said the measure would undo a number of things that are being funded in Tumwater, including electric vehicle charging stations, energy efficiency in schools and public buildings, and more.
“The Climate Commitment Act is one of the most important and boldest steps that any state has taken to address the climate crisis,” Lazar said. “This council adopted the climate emergency resolution, you are a participant in efforts around a climate mitigation plan, you’ve taken substantial steps yourself.”
The council adopted a plan in 2021 that includes 72 actions to reduce emissions. The city’s goal is to reduce community-wide greenhouse gas emissions by 45% by 2030 and 85% by 2050, compared to 2015 levels.
Lazar said he’s a co-lead for a local Indivisible chapter that has about 700 members countywide. He said the group is working against all four initiatives on this year’s ballot.
“The loss of the capital gains tax would be devastating to the schools, the repeal of the Climate Commitment Act would be devastating to our energy efficiency, renewable energy, wildfire prevention and other measures that are underway in the state,” he said.
He said more than 500 state entities have already endorsed the “No” on Initiative No. 2117. He said Vancouver was one of the first to take up the action, and Olympia is set to discuss the measure at an upcoming meeting.
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