Washington House advances 100 percent clean energy bill

The Washington House of Representatives has taken up the cause of greener energy, advancing a bill that would commit the state to fully carbon-free electricity by 2045.

In a vote that split the House nearly down the middle — 56-42 — the House advanced Senate Bill 5116, which would require all electric utilities to reach 100 percent, carbon-neutral electricity by 2030 and to be carbon-free by 2045. The bill was originally introduced by Sen. Reuven Carlyle (D-Seattle) and its House companion legislation by Rep. Gael Tarleton (D-Ballard). It stems, however, from Gov. Jay Inslee’s own stated focus on combating climate change and reducing the state’s carbon footprint.

“It’s time to move past the era of carbon into the next generation with modern, 21st-century energy systems using integrated wind, hydro and solar power,” Carlyle, chair of the Senate Environment, Energy & Technology Committee, said. “At a time when the federal government has functionally imploded on addressing climate change, the states are now taking the lead and moving forward on climate action.”

The bill would, if given final approval from the Senate and a sign-off by the governor, distinguish Washington as one of the leading proponents of cutting greenhouse gas emissions. It also represents the largest climate action effort from the Legislature since 2008.

“Moving away from fossil fuels has to start somewhere, so why not here?” Tarleton, House Finance Committee chair, said. “Washington has the courage to build a 21st-century economy beyond coal, beyond fossil fuels, to maintain and build a quality of life for generations to come.”