Washington: are you ready to act on climate in 2022?

SATHISH J

January 10, 2022

Happy New Year! One of my new year’s resolutions is to ensure climate action and I’m guessing you feel the same way.

Yes, we made some great progress in 2021 on climate, but there is still so much more to do to meet WA’s statutory climate goals, and most importantly, respect our Earth’s climate boundaries. We are already seeing and experiencing climate impacts in Washington, including hotter temperatures, more frequent and fiercer wildfires, and intense flooding. (My family was personally very impacted by the November extreme weather and subsequent flooding.)

Today is the first day of the 2022 legislative session, let’s raise our voices together to amplify the urgency of prioritizing these bills that help clean our air and protect our climate.

Please send a message to your legislators now.

Stay tuned as we track key climate bills and offer timely opportunities to weigh in with our elected leaders. Today we’ll focus on urging them to champion and support the following bills:

Targeted Electrification Incentives, HB 1767 SB 5666—to clarify that public utilities can create electrification programs, allowing them to provide incentives for customers to buy efficient heat pumps and other electric appliances. Utility electrification programs will improve customer choice, lower the cost of efficient all-electric technologies, and level the playing field between private and public utilities. These programs are beneficial to both the utility and the utility’s customers, so it’s a win-win.

Transportation Investments & Revenue—Washington State must adequately fund clean transportation options, including transit. The legislature should pursue new sources of transportation revenue—like the Air Quality Surcharge—that are progressive, climate-forward, and flexible in how they can be spent. Investments should prioritize multimodal solutions, heavy-duty vehicle electrification, and electrification options for low-income communities.

Thank you for sending a message.

We have a very small window to accelerate big solutions to the climate crisis for our health, our climate, and our future.

You can learn more about all our 2022 climate priorities here or download this 1-pager.

Author Bio

Joëlle Robinson

Field Director, Climate Solutions

Joëlle engages community members and diverse constituencies—faith, health, youth, parents, business—to make their voices heard for climate solutions. She led the team of organizers to ensure we stopped any coal export from the U.S. West Coast over the past decade. On offense, she co-led the Field team to help pass the 100% Clean Electricity (Clean Energy Transition Act in 2019) and in 2022 collaborated with the Field team to ensure that all new buildings (commercial and residential) will be built with heat pumps per the State Building Code Council. She continues to conspire for good with them on many other local and state initiatives.

Joëlle was the Regional Outreach Coordinator of National Wildlife Federation where she focused on mobilizing hunters, anglers and concerned citizens around solutions to global warming. Previous work with Climate Solutions includes the NW Climate Connections partnership, serving as the Field Assistant for the successful Clean Cars campaign, and Field Director of the Renewable Fuel Standard, which passed in April 2006.

She previously served on the boards of Earth Ministry, Solar Washington, and Sierra Club Executive Committee. She’s currently President of the board of her 3 year-old!

Joëlle is Northwest born and raised who loves to hike, dance, travel and explore the natural world.

Her favorite quote is “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” — Mary Oliver