The Washington Legislature wrapped up its 2008 session in mid-March with a surge of energy.
In addition to HB 2815, the Climate Action and Green Jobs bill, other bills signed into law were:
- HB 2844 supports the efforts of local governments to conserve, protect, improve and expand Washington’s urban forests via recognition programs, funding, a statewide inventory and assessment, education, and model forest plans and ordinances. The premise behind HB 2844, or the Evergreen Cities Act, is that trees reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, absorb air pollutants, and curb flooding and storm water runoff.
- SB 6580, Local Solutions to Global Warming, adds the goals of reducing global warming and adapting to the likely impacts of climate change to the Growth Management Act. The bill provides tools and resources to local governments for making responsible decisions about future development that reduce the need to drive and meet the growing demand for walkable communities.
- SB 6483, Local Farms and Healthy Kids, which, at first glance, may not appear to have anything to do with energy, but one effect of getting locally produced food into schools, hospitals and prisons is reduced energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions generated by transporting non-local food. Other benefits: the bill addresses poor nutrition and obesity, supports Northwest farmers and food producers, and provides healthy food for low-income people — all worthy directions to focus our energy.
- HB 2847 assists low-income households with improving the energy efficiency of their homes. The bill provides sales and use tax exemptions for the purchases of weatherization materials and services.
- HB 3362 helps small businesses purchase energy-efficient equipment by establishing a business and occupation tax credit for sales and use taxes paid on Energy Star and Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE) rated appliances.
The Legislature, however, pulled the plug on SB 6822/HB 3154, which would have supported the reduction of per capita vehicles miles traveled (VMTs) by single-occupant vehicles consistent with the stated goals of a 2007 executive order issued by Gov. Gregoire establishing goals for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, increasing clean energy sector jobs and reducing expenditures on imported fuel. Most of the goals set forth in the executive order were codified by the passage of SB 6001 in 2007.
Among pending legislation:
- HB 2426 would require state agencies to use solid-state lighting or fluorescent lighting where technically feasible and price competitive, and create a goal for state agencies to purchase 100% of their indoor lighting in the form of high-efficiency lighting by January 1, 2009.
- HB 2703 would direct the development of energy efficiency standards for general-purpose lighting, prohibit for sale general-purpose lights that contain certain levels of hazardous substances, and create a work group to address proper collection and recycling of any used general-purpose lights.
- HB 3116/SB 6733 would extend existing sales and use tax exemptions for renewable energy development to include biomass and extend the deadline to 2014.
- SB 5393/HB 1419 would result in a faster and more complete clean-up of hazardous waste sites, including the Hanford site. The legislation would direct the state Department of Ecology to prohibit disposal of hazardous waste at contaminated sites listed on the National Priority (“Superfund”) list until the site is in compliance with state and federal environmental laws.
- SB 6379/HB 2876 would eliminate the retail sales tax on highly energy-efficient appliances for homes, restaurants and institutional kitchens, and exempt the sales and use tax on labor and services rendered in repairing, cleaning, altering or improving such appliances and equipment.
- SB 6515/HB 2888 would provide sales and use tax exemptions to public entities for performance-based contracted energy equipment and services, and energy management systems.
Locally
Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels is asking the City Council to approve his green taxi plan. If passed, the city’s 600-odd taxicabs would be required to get at least 30 miles per gallon, which would reduce carbon dioxide emissions and reduce fuel costs.
Mayor Nickels also proposes to replace the Seattle Center update on the fall ballot in favor of refurbishing the Pike Place Market. The plan calls for a $75 million levy for repairs and upgrades, including a high-efficiency central heating and cooling system.
The mayor, along with City Council President Richard Conlin, also wants to impose a 20-cent fee on all disposable paper and plastic shopping bags and a ban on Styrofoam containers and cups used in the food-service industry. The manufacturing of all of these throw-away products burns significant amounts of energy, and plastic bags and Styrofoam are made from crude oil.
Maura Kelley Deering is a solo practitioner in Seattle focusing on environmental law, land use and real estate law. She can be reached at 206-679-8486 or through her Web site, www.raining.us/attorney.htm.
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