Climate + Energy
Washington State Leads in Climate-Friendly Building Policies—For Now
How two ballot initiatives would affect Washington’s clean building efforts and how the state can maintain its lead.
Washingtonians Will Soon Enjoy Cleaner Heating and Cooling Options
HB 2131, to allow thermal energy networks, unanimously passed in the 2024 legislative session. It’s a win for consumers, the climate, pipeline workers, and electric grids.
How Governor Inslee Can Rebalance Washington’s Utility Decarbonization Bill
HB 1589 favors investors over ratepayers—and state climate goals. A section veto would go a long way to fix the bill.
180 Sites Account for a Quarter of Cascadia’s Carbon Pollution
The region has a lot more cleaning up to do, even in its greenest corners.
Is the Permitting Process for Transmission Lines Really Broken?
Analyzing three common claims of malfunction, plus proposing a new, faster way forward for the Northwest.
Who Will Pay for Cascadia’s Transmission Lines?
The multibillion-dollar question that Senator Maria Cantwell, Governor Jay Inslee, and other Northwest leaders can help answer.
Without Gas, What Business Models Could Gas Utilities Pursue?
Several examples exist, and Cascadian policymakers can encourage shifts while setting guardrails to protect customers.
It’s Time for Cascadia to Start Pruning the Gas System and Electrifying Whole Neighborhoods
Early efforts in California, Colorado, and New York offer lessons to get started.
Washington’s Refinery Communities Just Got a Transition Boost
A quarter-million-dollar budget proviso will fund a study to map opportunities beyond oil.
