Leadership needed for legislation
The Seattle Times did a good job of summing up our state’s progress on curbing climate change and transitioning to a clean energy economy [“Climate-change progress,” Opinion, editorial, April 20].
Watching HB 1819/SB 5735’s progress, I have been excited at the prospect of Washington state finally taking action on climate change after years of talk, and then dismayed at lack of leadership to take real action to reach the level we need.
Although cap-and-trade is not in the current bill, this current bill is still legislation worthy of our support, requiring that Washington’s only coal-fired power plant reduce its emissions by 2025. Transitioning to clean power is not easy, but it is certainly possible with such a lengthy time period. We should urge this transition to start as soon as possible — for the sake of emissions reductions and because it will be easier than attempting to switch all at once, five or 10 or 15 years down the line.
The other crucial part of the current legislation will help us reduce emissions from traffic by increasing options for transportation. The result should get us where we need to go faster, and with reduced greenhouse-gas emissions. Since 55 percent of our emissions in Washington come from our cars, this is crucial.
The legislation at hand moves us forward in mitigating climate change. I hope state Sen. Phil Rockefeller will demonstrate leadership and help pass this bill. We should fight for every step forward that we can — even the small steps count!
— Maradel Gale, Bainbridge Island