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Let big polluters pay the price of pollution

For several years, the Northwest has waged one of the largest grassroots campaigns opposing coal companies’ slew of proposed coal export terminals in our region. Thanks to you, we've stopped four out of six, showing an amazing amount of passion and know-how as a movement. Now, we have the opportunity to fight for solutions, and must bring that same passion to accelerate a clean and equitable energy economy.

We can’t allow the coal and oil industries to continue building infrastructure for the fossil fuels of the past.

Today Governor Inslee announced his plan to propel Washington’s clean energy economy forward. This is a big deal. Our West Coast–including Washington along with California, British Columbia, and Oregon–represents the fifth largest economy in the world. By joining together to take action on climate change, we can jumpstart action on a continental scale. That’s exactly why the fossil fuel industry doesn’t want this to happen, and will fight our progress every step of the way.  It’s why we need to show our governor and legislators that Washingtonians want action now.   

Will you stand with Governor Inslee as he works to act on climate and advance our clean energy future?

We are all doing our part to keep Washington clean and green. It’s time for big fossil fuel polluters to show the same level of responsibility. Right now, oil companies and other polluters pile up profits while dumping all the carbon pollution they want into our air for free, leaving the rest of us to bear the costs.  

Today, Governor Inslee announced a detailed plan for enforcing limits on carbon pollution–limits that have actually been part of state law since 2008.

The impacts of climate change are fundamentally unequal; low-income communities and communities of color are already experiencing the devastating effects of air pollution and global warming, but solutions to global warming can strengthen Washington communities and our economy.

The next step is the state legislature. Please stand in support of the Governor’s plan to reduce carbon pollution. Contact your legislators and tell them to act on climate!

Our action today is very important. Already, the oil industry and their allies are pushing back–falsely claiming that we need more information before taking action on climate change. We can’t allow Big Oil’s attacks to stand alone in the media or with legislators. We need to counter the voices of polluters, and we need to show that there is overwhelming public support for confronting the climate crisis in Washington State.

I’m excited to keep working with you in strong climate action.  We are already paying the price for global warming pollution, but this is a problem we can solve together. The time to act is now. 

Author Bio

Jessica Finn Coven

former Washington State Director, Climate Solutions

Jessica Finn Coven is Director of the City of Seattle's Office of Sustainability & Environment.

Jessica previously served as the Washington State Director of Climate Solutions where her work focused on developing legislative and policy strategies to reduce global warming pollution and grow an equitable clean-energy economy in Washington State. Jessica first joined Climate Solutions in 2007 as a policy specialist and worked to further clean energy policy in Washington through the state’s Energy Independence Act, Climate Action and Green Jobs law and others.

Jessica also worked as the program director for the U.S. Climate Action Network. From 2002- 2005, she was a global warming campaigner for Greenpeace in Washington DC. She also spent several months working in Beijing as a policy advisor for Greenpeace China.

Jessica received her MA in economics and energy policy from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) and her BA in Mandarin from Barnard College, Columbia University.

Jessica currently sits on the board of Washington Conservation Voters. She lives in Seattle with her husband, young son and old dog.

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