What do Hawaii, California, New Mexico, and now Washington have in common? All four have made commitments to 100 percent clean energy. Last week, Washington’s state legislature officially passed one of the most ambitious clean energy bills in the nation. Washington is now committed to making the state’s electricity supply carbon neutral by 2030 and 100 percent carbon-free by 2045. The bill shuts the door on coal, saying it “is the policy of the state to eliminate coal-fired electricity.” By calling for energy to come from carbon-free sources by 2045, it leaves the door open for nuclear power. But with plentiful hydropower resources—the state already gets around three-quarters of its electricity from hydro—and booming renewable energy industry, the state will likely look to those resources more than costly nuclear plants to meet its commitment. In addition to committing to cutting emissions, the bill is also designed to ensure the transition to renewables and any bumps in energy prices aren’t shouldered by the poor. The bill says utilities “must make funding available for energy assistance to low-income households.” For Washington governor Jay Inslee, who requested the bill, the clean energy bill is a good testament to what he could potentially accomplish in the White House if he gets elected in the upcoming 2020 elections.
Washington state commits to running entirely on carbon-free energy by 2045
More of Today's Solutions
What nobody mentions in the return-to-office debate: babies
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Governments have spent decades and billions trying to reverse falling birth rates. Cash bonuses for new parents in ...
Read MoreWhy the kiwiberry might be the most nutritious fruit you’ve never tried
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM For most of human history, the kiwiberry was valued for its flowers while the fruit was just an ...
Read MoreEmergency shelter transformation for disability-inclusive disaster response
Following the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy, the Alliance Center for Independence (ACI) in Edison, New Jersey, responded to the dismal truth that emergency ...
Read MoreUniversity students transform workouts into power with energy-generating gym ...
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Imagine getting on the treadmill and knowing that every stride you take burns calories and helps keep the ...
Read More
