The League of Women Voters of Snohomish County strongly supports the 100 percent clean, renewable electricity bill (SB 5116) that has passed the state Senate and is now being considered in the House. We support the right of all people to clean air, clean water and healthy land and forest resources. The 100 percent clean bill builds the cornerstone of a broad-based clean energy economy that aggressively addresses the climate crisis while reducing pollution in our communities. The bill requires all electric utilities to eliminate coal-fired resource contributions to the electricity grid by 2025, provides for 80 percent clean electricity by 2030, and 100 percent clean electricity by 2045. The goal is to transition our electricity grid entirely to clean and renewable sources by 2045 in an affordable, just, and equitable way.
Some utilities are saying that 100 percent clean will lead to high costs and decreased reliability. These same claims have been made before, and found to be untrue.
The time for action is now! Washington is uniquely positioned to achieve a 100 percent clean electric grid. With our strong base of hydropower and existing renewable energy policies, almost 70 percent of our electrical power is already fossil-fuel-free. The price of clean energy continues to fall, and in many cases, is already competitive with conventional energy sources.
We have the technology to capture clean, abundant, renewable energy from the sun and wind, and to do so more cheaply and efficiently than ever before. Polls show that 8 in 10 Washingtonians want clean energy.
Contact your representatives and tell them to strengthen and pass SB 5116, Washington’s 100 percent clean, renewable electricity bill.
Karen Madsen
League of Women Voters of Snohomish County
Everett
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