Week of April 6, 2009
For the seventh year in a row, the environmental community will prepare weekly Hot Lists detailing positions on no more than ten of the highest priority issues being considered that week in the House and Senate.
If you are interested in receiving pdf version of the hotlist by Monday morning of each week, please email sudha (at) wcvoters.org.
HOUSE FLOOR ACTION
SHB 1614: Reducing the amount of petroleum pollution in stormwater (a.k.a. Invest in Clean Water).
POSITION: SUPPORT
•As the conversation around the state budget intensifies, there is growing momentum behind this bill as an immediate, real and substantive win for the environment, jobs and local governments.
•By imposing a fee on petroleum products that contribute to stormwater pollution, this bill would raise over $100 million in new funds that can be used for improved water quality in Puget Sound and across Washington. This polluter-pays approach could fund job-creating infrastructure projects in every district in the state.
ESSB 5352: 2009-11 Transportation Budget
POSITION: SUPPORT the Simpson Amendment - 5352-S.E. AMH SIMP PARC 036 (#462)
•This amendment would strike a proviso that restricts WSDOT from signing off on a final EIS, or entering negotiations on an airspace lease, for the I-90 floating bridge project that moves the HOV lanes from the center to the outside lanes in preparation for adding light rail service to East King County cities.
•The proviso could significantly delay light rail service between Seattle and East King County cities as approved overwhelmingly by central Puget Sound voters this past November. The Simpson amendment to strike the proviso has been signed by 49 members, both Democratic and Republican.
ESSB 5583: Improving the effectiveness of water bank and exchange provisions.
POSITION: SUPPORT
•A water bank, administered through the Trust Water Rights Program, is a mechanism that provides flexibility for supplying water to instream and out-of-stream demands and protects a water right holder from relinquishment while the water is managed through the bank.
•This bill clarifies how a water bank operates and provides a consistent statewide system for managing banked water.
E2SSB 5735: Reducing greenhouse gas emissions (a.k.a. formerly known as Cap and Invest).
POSITION: SUPPORT
•It is critical this year to keep moving Washington forward in reducing dependence on fossil fuels and making real progress toward the 2020 emissions limits committed to in last year’s Climate Action and Green Jobs law.
•We support this bill moving forward, to be strengthened on the House floor to make clearer progress in meeting Washington’s 2020 emissions limits. Key pieces of a meaningful bill are measures to make Washington less-dependent on dirty coal power and taking steps to give people more transportation choices.
2SSB 5854: Reducing climate pollution in the built environment (a.k.a. Efficiency First).
•This bill has considerable cost-effective greenhouse gas pollution reduction. Please pass this important policy and get the bill to the Governor’s desk to sign.
•This modest investment by the state, which is included in the Senate Operating budget, will save the public and private sector money through savings in utility bills, will stimulate our economy, improve our buildings, create jobs in energy efficiency services, and increase accountability that will help WA receive additional federal stimulus dollars.
SENATE COMMITTEE ACTION
E2SHB 1009: Modifying existing sales and use tax exemptions related to certain electricity generation.
Ways & Means: Possible executive action
POSITION: SUPPORT WITH AMENDMENTS
•This bill extends key sales and use tax exemptions for renewable energy projects in WA state. Abundant, affordable, environmentally responsible and diverse energy supply underlies Washington’s economic and environmental health. It creates jobs, strengthens local communities, and positions Washington to be a leader in the green economy.
•Please extend the tax exemption for renewable projects for all parties and not just for qualifying utilities of I-937.
E2SHB 1747: Reducing climate pollution in the built environment (a.k.a. Efficiency First).
Ways & Means: Possible public hearing
POSITION: SUPPORT
•This bill has considerable cost-effective greenhouse gas pollution reduction. Please pass this important policy and get the bill to the Governor’s desk to sign.
•This modest investment by the state is included in the House Operating budget and will save the public and private sector money through savings in utility bills, will stimulate our economy, improve our buildings, create jobs in energy efficiency services, and increase accountability that will help WA receive additional federal stimulus
SSB 5161: Extending tax incentives for renewable resources, including tidal and wave energy.
Ways & Means: Possible executive action
POSITION: SUPPORT WITH AMENDMENTS
•This bill extends key sales and use tax exemptions for renewable energy projects in WA state. This is key to spurring renewable energy development in WA, generating money for local governments, and creating good green jobs.
•Please add wind generation back as an eligible renewable, and reinstate the tax exemption for all parties, not just utilities that qualify for I-937.
SSB 5518: Reducing the amount of petroleum pollution in stormwater. (a.k.a. Invest in Clean Water).
Ways & Means: Possible Executive Action
POSITION: SUPPORT
•As the conversation around the state budget intensifies, there is growing momentum behind this bill as an immediate, real and substantive win for the environment, jobs and local governments.
•By imposing a fee on petroleum products that contribute to stormwater pollution, this bill would raise over $100 million in new funds that can be used for improved water quality in Puget Sound and across Washington. This polluter-pays approach could fund job-creating infrastructure projects in every district in the state.
SB 6145: Authorizing the siting of a master planned location for major auctioneering activity.
Ways & Means: Possible Executive Action
POSITION: OPPOSE
•This bill seeks to get around existing local protections through statuatory spot-zoning. This decision should be decided at the county level, not state.
•Locating these uses in or near an urban growth area with adequate public facilities and services will reduce demands on state revenues during a time when these revenues are declining.
HB 1456: Preventing the conversion of certain natural resource lands.
POSITION: SUPPORT
•Fully contained communities are threatening working lands and rural communities all over Washington. The 2007 Census of Agriculture reports that WA loses an acre of farmland every seven minutes.
•HB 1456 would prevent new fully contained communities from being developed on natural resource lands, helping to reduce the pressure to urbanize these working lands. The bill won't apply to any existing or current applications.
ESHB 1571: Regarding the adjudication of water rights.
POSITION: SUPPORT
•Adjudication is a critical tool for understanding how much water is actually used in a basin and the amount of water available. Unfortunately, only a small fraction of water rights in Washington have been adjudicated, leaving the state unable to adequately manage its rivers and streams.
•This bill modernizes the adjudication process, promotes efficiency, and provides certainty for water users.
EHB 1967: Relating to prohibiting urban growth area expansions in one hundred year floodplains.
POSITION: SUPPORT
•In the last two years, Washington saw extreme flooding events from Whatcom to Clark Counties, threatening lives & property and causing over $1 billion worth of damage to the state.
•The bill prevents future communities from being put in harm's way and reduces unnecessary costs to the state and taxpayers.
SHB 2010: Concerning state funding for local projects.
POSITION: SUPPORT
•By 2020, the state must reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels. The state capital budget spends billions of dollars on infrastructure that if not spent properly could make it more difficult to achieve the greenhouse gas reductions required by state law.
•This bill requires that state infrastructure funds be spent in ways that will help the state achieve its greenhouse gas reduction targets.
HB 2129: Regarding the greenhouse gas emissions performance standard.
POSITION: SUPPORT
•The emissions performance standard passed in 2006 sets limits on the amount of greenhouse gas pollution emitted through electricity generation. The law’s intent is clear: to prevent more dirty coal plants and other high emitting resources from serving Washington’s needs.
•This legislation closes loop holes that otherwise would threaten to un-do the standards and allow dirty resources from out of state to be used in Washington.
