New brief: A Newly Expanded SEPA Threatens Washington's Competitiveness
As part of the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), the Department of Ecology and other agencies have recently used expanded scopes of review for certain proposals. Under these scopes, the agencies are considering impacts that go beyond state borders, to an unprecedented extent. In a new policy brief, we look at what is happening, outline […]
June 03 , 2014 - Richard S. Davis
Business and labor react to proposed federal climate change regs: lost jobs, higher costs, more uncertainty
Yesterday’s announcement of new climate change regulations guarantees another marathon debate over the costs and benefits of dramatically reducing our reliance on coal. Unsurprisingly, as the New York Times reports, our state’s governor is on board. Gov. Jay Inslee of Washington, a liberal who, like Mr. Obama, hopes to make climate policy a signature of […]
May 30 , 2014 - Richard S. Davis
Looking ahead: Minimum wage, fish consumption, data centers, and cap & trade.
The week ends with a few stories reflecting some changes ahead: Minimum Wage Puget Sound Business Journal asks, $15 minimum wage: What will Seattle restaurants with Eastside locations do? Some of the answers aren’t good. A Crosscut article, Seattle on verge of ‘historic’ action on minimum wage, closes with a curious quote from Seattle councilmember Sally Clark, who […]
May 16 , 2014 - Richard S. Davis
Governor's climate committee looks at cap-and-trade through an international lens; interstate battles over energy policy
Crosscut reports that the governor’s climate change committee heard yesterday from United Kingdom experts on their experience with cap-and-trade. Among other things, the experts say, “it’s complicated.” However, Inslee suggested that a rudimentary cap-and-trade proposal could be mapped out this year, noting that Great Britain started out with a limited program that grew more sophisticated as the […]
February 28 , 2014 - Kriss Sjoblom
Washington's carbon emissions in 2011 were the lowest since 1987
The U.S. Energy Information Agency (EIA) posted new estimates of state carbon emissions from fossil fuel combustion earlier this week. EIA estimates that Washington state sources emitted 69.8 million metric tons of carbon dioxide in 2011. This was 2.5 percent below the 70.5 million tons emitted in 1990 and represented the lowest emissions total since […]
January 03 , 2014 - Emily Makings
I-522 postscript
The Wall Street Journal reports that General Mills has begun making Cheerios free of genetically engineered ingredients. As we showed in our report, “Initiative 522: Costly, Flawed and Ill-Conceived,” genetically engineered foods are safe and widely used. I-522 would have required mandatory labeling of certain foods made with genetically engineered ingredients, but Washington voters rejected […]
September 16 , 2013 - Emily Makings
Special Report: Initiative 522: Costly, Flawed and Ill-Conceived
This fall Washington residents will vote on Initiative 522, which would require foods offered for retail sale in the state to be labeled if they are genetically engineered. In a special report, we assess the economic impact of I-522 on Washington’s consumers, taxpayers and Washington’s agricultural economy. Here is the executive summary, and here is […]
April 19 , 2013 - Kriss Sjoblom
Most western states don't tax by-product fuel
A bill before the state house of representatives (HB 2038) would require petroleum refiners to pay use tax on fuels they use that are by-products of the refining process. Bill supporters claim that Washington is unusual in not taxing such fuels. This is not true. These fuels would be untaxed in 8 of the other […]
March 26 , 2013 - Richard S. Davis
WA, OR governors urge review of climate change effect of coal ports: A new regulatory hurdle for major projects?
Yesterday, Gov. Jay Inslee and Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber sent a letter to Council of Environmental Quality chair Nancy Sutley, urging the CEQ to consider the long-term environmental consequences of proposed coal export terminals in the two states. Their request is broad. Well, it’s global. We believe the decisions to continue and expand coal leasing […]
May 29 , 2012 - Richard S. Davis
Why Coal Continues to Matter
In his column today, AWB president Don Brunell weighs in on the “war on coal.” Specifically, he looks at the mounting challenges to proposed shipping terminals in the Northwest. Don points out that, although such projects are already subject to a review process including an Environmental Impact Statement, opponents want more. But opponents want to […]