Governor Signs Order to Increase Transportation Options

In conjunction with the Environmental Protection Agency's public hearing on climate change in Seattle this morning, Governor Gregoire signed an executive order to enact new rules to reduce traffic congestion and climate change emissions by increasing transportation options in Washington's most populous areas.

The order implements targets, which the legislature established in 2008 by directing the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to work with regional planning organizations in the state's seven most urban areas to expand transportation choices, such as public transit and commute trip reduction programs.The order will require WSDOT to work with regional planners to develop transportation plans that are consistent with the state's benchmarks to reduce per capita vehicle miles travelled by 18 percent by 2020, 30% by 2035 and a 50% reduction by 2050.

The average urban driver spends one work week each year stuck in traffic. That time spent commuting means lost productivity at work, wasted gas money and five days sitting in traffic.A recent study released by The American Public Transportation Association, which analyzes gas and parking prices monthly, calculates that the national average savings for a family leaving just one of their cars in the garage for a year is $8,670. In Seattle the savings is actually higher at $10,447 a year.

Despite a Rough Legislative Session, Many Wins on Clean and Renewable Energy

The recently completed legislative session has been touted as a tough one for the environment, but several clean energy bills successfully bucked the tide. Many proactive bills were approved and attempts to weaken the citizens' clean energy initiative (I-937) were stopped.

At least 70 energy-related bills were introduced. Here are some of the key clean and renewable energy bills that passed.

• Efficiency First, championed by Rep. Rolfes and Sen. Kilmer, was one of the four environmental community priorities. The bill will make our commercial and public buildings models of energy efficiency through codes that promoting super-efficient, low-energy-use building. Since lack of information about existing buildings' energyuse hinders attempts to improve their energy efficiency, Efficiency First also requires disclosure of buildings' energy use scores (similar to a vehicles' MPG ratings) to prospective buyers.

  By making homes, businesses and public institutions more energy efficient, the Efficiency First legislation will save Washington state money, create good local jobs, enhance energy security, slash global-warming pollution and speed economic recovery while reducing the need to invest in costly new generation.

• The renewable sales tax exemption bill creates or extends several environmental and clean energy tax incentives. The tax break for in-state production of renewable energy and the full sales and use tax exemption for machinery and equipment used to produce small-scale solar energy generation were extended. Incentives to expand community solar projects were included as well.

• The Emissions Performance Standard was improved with language assuring that the greenhouse gas reductions required by state law apply to power imported from outside the state as well as to in-state generation. Utilities will not be allowed to skirt state standards by buying dirty power produced elsewhere. Cost protections for utility consumers are also included.

All of these bills will help build Washington's new clean, green economy.

Obama Administration Calls for a "Timeout" on New Road Building in National Forests

The Obama administration took a key first step in protecting Roadless forests by placing a one-year moratorium on road-building and development on millions of acres of remote national forests.  As announced by Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, the directive states that for one year no road construction or removal of timber can take place without the Secretary's approval in areas of National Forests protected by the Roadless Area Conservation Rule.

Washington Wilderness Coalition, along with The Lands Council and the Gifford Pinchot Task Force, has led efforts to gain the key support in Washington State that has urged the Obama administration to uphold the Roadless Rule.  Over the last six months, more than 200 local elected officials and 160 local stakeholders just in Washington State alone have signed on to a national resolution calling on the Obama Administration to uphold the Roadless Rule.

The 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule was a historic and balanced conservation initiative enacted under the Clinton Administration to protect 58.5 million acres of wild national forest land from most commercial logging and road-building.  The rule protected more than two million acres of roadless areas in Washington State.  These roadless areas include some of the most important and well known forests in our state, including areas in the Colville National Forest's Kettle Range, the Dark Divide Roadless Area located between Mt. St. Helens and Mt Adams in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Liberty Bell in the North Cascades, and the South Quinault Area of the Olympic Peninsula.

The values of protecting roadless forests include:

• Sixty million Americans rely on clean drinking water from the national forests. Roadless areas provide the purest source of that water due to their pristine and road-free condition.

• Outdoor recreation has become more and more popular over time as Americans participate in everything from hike and camping to hunting and fishing in roadless areas. Approximately 2.5 million Washington residents take part in hunting, fishing, and wildlife-watching each year, contributing $more than $2.5 billion to the state's economy.

• A majority of the unspoiled habitat for hundreds of threatened, endangered, and declining species is found in roadless areas. In Washington, 25 at-risk species, including bald eagles, steelhead and bull trout and Chinook salmon, are found in national forests and could be harmed by the building of new roads and the ensuing destruction of roadless areas.

Seattle Religious Leaders Testify at EPA Hearing

Three weeks ago the EPA announced that it would hold two hearings on its endangerment finding, that global warming pollution is a threat to public health and welfare. On Thursday, May 21, 2009, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) came to Seattle and, three religious leaders testified at the EPA hearing -- Lutheran Bishop Wm. Chris Boerger (ELCA), Rabbi Zari Weiss (Jewish Climate Challenge), and LeeAnne Beres (Executive Director of Earth Ministry/WAIPL). Climate Solutions Policy Director KC Golden also joined their panel. The testimony was well received by the EPA and they received a long round of applause from the audience.

At noon, a spirited crowd estimated at 2,000 people gathered outside the EPA hearing in Seattle urging the Obama Administration to take action on reducing global warming pollution. Rabbi Zari Weiss offered a blessing for our shared work addressing the challenge of climate change and called on those present to support efforts at the local, state, and federal level. Rabbi Weiss was joined on stage by 30 religious leaders from a multitude of faith traditions and religious denominations, showing the depth and breadth of commitment in the faith community for action on climate change.

Click here for testimonies from the EPA hearing, Rabbi Weiss' rally invocation, media clips, and more photos!