From The Environmental Priorities Coalition: WEEK of February 25, 2013 Environmental Community 2013 Legislative Session Hot List for the STATE SENATE As we believe you are aware, the environmental community’s “Environmental Priorities Coalition” prepares a weekly “Hot List” detailing its positions on up to ten of the highest priority issues for the upcoming week. These Hot Lists are the best way for you to get a clear view of the issues that are most important to ensuring environmental protection in Washington State. Separate Hot Lists are prepared for the House and Senate and distributed each Monday. If the bill is related to one of the THREE environmental community Priorities for 2013, it is designated by the Priorities “button” on the right.
Please feel free to contact clifford@ctassociates.org or 206-369-2235 if you have any questions and we hope you find this communication helpful! Respectfully, Clifford R. Traisman, State Lobbyist, Washington Conservation Voters & Washington Environmental Council —
POSSIBLE SENATE FLOOR ACTION CRITICAL – THIS IS THE PIT TO PIER BILL – SB 5805: Concerning projects of statewide significance for economic development and transportation. POSITION: OPPOSE . SB 5805 undermines existing law which provides for the designation of projects of statewide significance provided there is a net environmental benefit and the local legislative authorities support the project. The bill removes the requirement for local support and changes the environmental benefit to be for any region of the state. . This bill could fast-track the permitting and environmental review process for mega-projects like the Pit-to-Pier gravel mine on Hood Canal or the coal export terminals despite major environmental impacts provided they have off-site mitigation in another region of the state.
SB 5636: Providing a process for county legislative authorities to withdraw from voluntary planning under the growth management act. POSITION: OPPOSE . The GMA is the primary law systematically preventing the proliferation of 1-acre residential lots served by exempt wells in areas without available water, harming senior water rights holders and fish and wildlife. . We are working on a compromise to provide the state with more certainty but oppose the current version of the bill.
SB 5658: Concerning mercury-containing lights. POSITION: OPPOSE . This bill would dismantle the existing lighting recycling law and create an inadequate and underfunded program that won’t get the job done. . Shifts responsibilities from manufacturers and leaves state and local governments, utilities, schools and taxpayers with the balance of the costs.
SB 5836: Relating to providing certainty to local governments on water resources decisions. POSITION: OPPOSE . Weakens the requirement that local governments ensure a reliable and safe water supply when evaluating land use development applications. . This approach fails to protect consumers purchasing land for development purposes when those lands do not have a reliable water supply and may cause harm to existing water rights and salmon.
Clean Energy Solutions Button SENATE COMMITTEE ACTION SB 5802: Developing recommendations to achieve the state’s greenhouse gas emissions targets. Senate Ways and Means: Companion Bill: HB 1915 POSITION: SUPPORT . This Governor’s-request legislation would evaluate the climate pollution reduction programs of other states and Canadian provinces and convene the Governor and legislative leaders to develop policies to ensure we achieve our climate pollution limits for 2020 and beyond (set in statute through a 2008 environmental Priority bill). . Right now, Washington sends approximately $15 billion each year to out of state oil and gas companies. With a booming clean energy economy, those dollars could be invested with Washington companies to create Washington jobs. States and regions with climate policies in place have seen strong growth in their clean energy economies, including California and New England.
SB 5219: Retaining water resources to assure the vitality of local economies. Senate Ways and Means: Possible Executive Session POSITION: OPPOSE . Forces the state to “use” water rights that are connected to public lands for out-of-stream purposes. If a water right is not used, the state must decide every four years if the water should be put into an account that will allow others to use the water for commercial purposes or risk relinquishment. . Even though water law recognizes keeping water instream as a “beneficial use”, this bill would not allow water rights connected to public lands to be used for instream flow purposes and adds a new cost to managing public lands.
SB 5296: Relating to the model toxics control act. Senate Ways and Means: Possible Executive Session POSITION: OPPOSE . Passed by the voters in 1988, the Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA) is a critical “polluter pays” program that funds toxic clean up projects, implements prevention strategies, and protects public health. The law expedites clean ups in cases of hardship, redevelopment of abandoned sites, etc. . This bill rewrites large portions of MTCA and prioritizes cleanups for redevelopment – including projects that should be funded by private landowners and developers – and creates tremendous uncertainty for prevention, solid and hazardous waste management, and other activities.
Hot List for the STATE HOUSE POSSIBLE HOUSE FLOOR ACTION HB 1106: Regarding net metering of electricity. POSITION: SUPPORT Clean Energy Solutions Button . All too often, the upfront costs of purchasing solar panels prevents families and small businesses from taking advantage of generating their own energy. This bill permits third-party ownership of customers’ renewable energy systems, allowing customers to lease rather than buy rooftop solar panels or another distributed generation system. In Oregon and California, this program has significantly expanded their solar markets creating new jobs and building the states’ economies. . This bill also increases both the net-metering utilities can offer their customers and increases net metering to 199kW. This allows schools, farms, businesses and other customers with multiple systems to take full advantage of distributed generation, producing more renewable energy and lowering their electricity bill.
HOUSE COMMITTEE ACTION HB 1915: Developing recommendations to achieve the state’s greenhouse gas emissions limits. Environment Committee: Companion
Bill: SB 5802 POSITION: SUPPORT Clean Energy Solutions Button . This Governor’s-request legislation would evaluate the climate pollution reduction programs of other states and Canadian provinces and convene the Governor and legislative leaders to develop policies to ensure we achieve our climate pollution limits for 2020 and beyond (set in statute through a 2008 environmental Priority bill). . Right now, Washington sends approximately $15 billion each year to out of state oil and gas companies. With a booming clean energy economy, those dollars could be invested with Washington companies to create Washington jobs. States and regions with climate policies in place have seen strong growth in their clean energy economies, including California and New England.
HB 1350: Relating to providing options for local communities to balance growth with water resources goals. Appropriations Subcommittee on Government Operations: Possible Public Hearing POSITION: OPPOSE . Allows certain large developments to rely on unpermitted wells and avoid Ecology review of water availability under a state water rights permit. . Will result in harm to junior water right holders, including instream flows necessary for salmon, navigation, and recreation.
HB 1910: Concerning the sales and use tax exemption expiration date for machinery and equipment used in generating electricity. House Finance: Public Hearing and Possible Executive Session POSITION: SUPPORT . The development of clean, new renewable resources in Washington has brought $8 billion worth of capital investment into this state, stimulating economic development and creating jobs, as well as generating revenue for rural counties in particular. . The Sales and Use Tax Exemption for Renewables has been leveling the playing field between Washington and other states that have no sales and use tax; namely our neighbors Oregon and Montana and should be renewed.
HB 1953: Concerning local option transportation revenue. Transportation Committee: Public Hearing and Possible Executive Session POSITION: SUPPORT . This bill preserves jobs, reduces congestion, and protects the environment by providing Community Transit with local funding options to address critical transit service. It’s supported by local businesses, cities, workers, and social service organizations. . Community Transit has already cut more than 35% of its bus service, raised fares multiple times, and delayed capital investments. Currently they provide no bus service on Sundays, leaving thousands of Snohomish County residents stranded and unable to get to work, shops, and everywhere in between.
HB 1959: Concerning local transportation revenue. Transportation Committee: Public Hearing and Possible Executive Session POSITION: SUPPORT . This bill preserves jobs, reduces congestion, and protects the environment by providing local governments with additional local funding options to address local transportation needs, including critical transit service and road repair. . Without this bill, for example, King County Metro will have to cut 17% of their bus service next year despite increased ridership.
Contributing Organizations American Rivers . Cascade Bicycle Club . Climate Solutions . Conservation Northwest . Earth Ministry . Environment Washington . Faith Action Network . Fuse . Futurewise . Heart of America Northwest . The Lands Council . League of Women Voters of Washington . National Wildlife Federation . The Nature Conservancy . NW Energy Coalition . The Washington State Chapter of the Sierra Club . Surfrider Foundation . Transportation Choices Coalition . Washington Conservation Voters . Washington Environmental Council . Washington State Audubon . Washington Toxics Coalition . Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition . Zero Waste Washington