| Environment Reduce greenhouse gas emissions, put a price on carbon, and enact measures to promote climate resiliency. Issue Team Chair: Martin Gibbins, mgibbins@lwvwa.org, (425) 361-5007 (Lead), Phyllis Farrell, pfarrell@lwvwa.org, (360) 789-8307 |
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Overview The League of Women Voters of Washington believes that climate change is a serious threat facing our nation and planet, and an international approach to combating climate change—including through energy conservation, air pollution controls, building resilience, and promotion of renewable resources—is necessary to protect public health and defend the overall integrity of the global ecosystem. The League supports climate goals and policies that are consistent with the best available climate science and that will ensure a stable climate system for future generations. Individuals, communities, and governments must continue to address this issue, while considering the ramifications of their decisions, at all levels—local, state, regional, national, and global.
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| House Bills | House | Senate | After Passage | |||||||||
| Bill # | Bill Name (Brief Title) | League Position | Take Action | In Committee | On Floor Calendar | Passed | In Committee | On Floor Calendar | Passed | Passed Legislature | On Governor's Desk | Signed |
| HB 1280 | Greenhouse gas emissions reductions in the design of public facilities | Supports | x |
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| HB 1619 | Appliance efficiency standards | Supports | x |
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| HB 1623 | Risk assessment of power supply inadequacy events | Supports | x |
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| HB 1663 | Reducing methane emissions from landfills | Supports | x |
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| HB 1770 |
Strengthening energy codes |
Supports | x |
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| HB 1792 | Expanding the production, distribution, and use of green hydrogen | Supports |
x |
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| HB 1799 | Organic materials management to reduce methane | Supports | x |
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| HB 1814 |
Expanding equitable access to the benefits of renewable energy through community solar projects. | Supports | x |
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These weekly updates will provide you with a "deep dive" into the progress of each bill, along with more analysis of the potential impact of the bill if it should pass.
HB 1280 Greenhouse gas emissions reductions in the design of public facilities. Makes two important updates: 1) including greenhouse gas emissions in new building life-cycle analysis, and 2) assuring renewable energy systems in building design options.
HB 1619 Appliance efficiency standards. Adjusts efficiency standards and includes more included to reduce pollution and improve electricity supply and demand balance. HB 1620 Response to extreme weather events. Appropriate funding to enable local jurisdictions to provide immediate relief—such as warming and cooling centers—during weather events with extreme temperatures, and targeting socially vulnerable populations.
HB 1623 Risk assessment of power supply inadequacy events. Amends current requirements for annual adequacy assessments of energy resources to serve the state's electric needs, and requires the 2022 assessment to specifically address the risk of rolling blackouts and power supply inadequacy events.
HB 1663 Reducing methane emissions from landfills. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas. For landfills of specific size and content, operators would install methane collection and control systems and monitor methane releases.
HB 1799 – Organic materials management to reduce methane. Requires waste management systems to direct more organic matter toward composting facilities, reduces legal liability in the donation of edible food, encourages development of more applications for compost products, improve standards for labeling.
HB 1814 – Community solar projects. Enables residents, whose housing is not easily or efficiently retrofitted for solar panels, to join a community solar project installation and enjoy the benefits.
SB 5697 – Renewing Washington’s recycling system and reducing waste – RENEW Act. Covers product stewardship for packaging and printed paper, including recycling and reuse targets, accurate labeling provisions and requirements for post-consumer recycled content.
SB 5722 - Reducing greenhouse gas emissions in buildings. Greenhouse gas release from buildings, primarily in heating systems, is second only to transportation in Washington. This bill adjusts building codes for more new buildings, including multifamily housing, to incorporate more carbon-free energy sources.
SB 5842 – State laws that address climate change. This bill contains clarifications, refinements and additional elements for the Cap and Invest program, the core of the Climate Commitment Act of 2021.
SB 5910 - Accelerating the availability and use of renewable hydrogen in Washington state. Creates a statewide Office of Renewable Fuels under the Department of Commerce to focus development of new fuels based on renewable green hydrogen production, and to enable the distribution and use of the fuels.
SJM 8007 Management of spent nuclear fuel. Urges Congress and the Secretary of Energy to implement the recommendations of a 2021 study by the Government Accountability Office to ensure proper management of spent nuclear fuel.
Some bills of significance to Climate Change and Energy are covered in the Transportation issue.
Bills Anticipated for Reintroduction with New Language and Numbers
HB 1084 Reducing statewide greenhouse gas emissions by achieving greater decarbonization of residential and commercial buildings. Sponsors have said components of this bill will be partitioned into several bills for 2022.
Bills from the 2021 Session Unlikely to Proceed in 2022
HB 1537 Terminating certain tax preferences for fossil fuel products. The language adjusts the use tax on natural gas, exempting renewable gas and some transportation uses. This bill was intended to improve revenue during the pandemic recession, but the extra revenue was not required.
SB 5373 The Washington STRONG Act authorizes nearly $5 billion of green bonds to invest in infrastructure and mitigation to reduce climate change and transition to a clean economy. This was an alternative to the Climate Commitment Act (SB 5126) which passed.
How To Be Involved
- Local Leagues in Washington have action chairs who coordinate action teams. Some local Leagues have environmental teams to take action locally. Contact your local League action chair to find out and join.
- You may also express your opinion on legislation with the LWVWA issue chairs. We will take your perspectives under considerations as we determine our support for legislation and prepare testimony. Martin Gibbins, Climate Change and Energy Issue Chair, mgibbins@lwvwa.org.