State Senator Bob Morton honored as champion of historic solar bills
- By Marc Krasnowsky of Earth Share organization NW Energy Coalition
OLYMPIA -- Washington state Sen. Bob Morton (R-Orient) has been commended by the NW Energy Coalition for championing two landmark renewables bills passed during the 2005 legislative session.
SBs 5111 and 5101 provide tax incentives and credits for the in-state manufacture and use of solar and other small-scale energy systems. Together, they will attract solar electric corporations to the state, keep existing companies here and give up to $2,000 per year in tax credits to residential and business customers who install small renewable energy systems. Customers using components manufactured in Washington get an even higher tax break.
NW Energy Coalition, an association of more than 100 Northwest utilities, consumer and low-income advocates, environmental organizations and labor unions, works to ensure that the region's growing electricity needs are met with clean, affordable renewable energy and energy efficiency. Coalition executive director Sara Patton praised Sen. Morton for recognizing the job-creation and economic-development benefits the solar incentives will bring.
"Renewable energy incentives help create a market for developers and manufacturers and thus attract significant private investments in clean energy, which is particularly important in our rural communities," Patton said. "As ranking Republican on the Senate's Water, Energy and Environment Committee, Sen. Morton put the power of his position behind these historic bills."
Sen. Morton received his award Wednesday morning during a brief ceremony in his Olympia office.
"I am honored that the NW Energy Coalition would recognize my efforts to promote the expansion of 'green' energy in this state, specifically legislation I proposed last session to encourage the use and manufacture of solar energy systems here in Washington," he said. "I am encouraged by this organization's enthusiasm and look forward to working with them to further our state's use of cleaner, more self-reliant forms of energy."
