Seattle City Wire

Recognizing the increasing dangers of climate change, the Washington Business Alliance formed a coalition that will support legislation to cap emissions and create a more environmentally-friendly state.

The alliance said it created a coalition called Clean and Prosperous Washington to bolster the Climate Commitment act, which Gov. Jay Inslee supports.

"Cap and invest is a model that is working and spreading across our country and world," David Giuliani said in a Jan. 19 release, who is leading the alliance's coalition.

Washington officials and proponents said the climate change legislation's goal mirrors a growing nationwide initiative to reduce carbon emissions.

Through California's program, 12 states and Washington, D.C., have united to form the Transportation and Climate Initiative, which is considered the model for the multi-state cap and invest movement.

"There is an exciting and proven playbook we can improve upon to create a policy signal that motivates real reductions and grows our economy," Giuliani said.

Efforts to reduce carbon are based on a report from the Low carbon Prosperity Institute released last summer. The institute's report found that clean-energy investments are the best way for Washington to recover from the economic slump COVID-19 created, the release said.

The Clean and Prosperous Washington participants want to help craft the new legislation.

The Climate Commitment Act would call for a cap on carbon emissions. It would seek to create new jobs, improve infrastructure and promote clean energy innovation. The act would also seek reductions in energy waste, provide clean air and water, set limits on carbon emissions, seek justice and equality for residents and invest in rural communities.

The legislation also wants the protection of scenic and forest areas and an electrified future.

The release said the legislation would be crafted in conjunction with the recently adopted Clean Energy Transformation Act that is calling on large manufacturing businesses to develop clean technology practices.

Inslee's support is part of a wider-reaching climate policy package the governor's web page declared.

"Climate change is a health issue, an economic issue and an equity issue," Inslee said. "We must address these very real threats to our state, and we cannot wait. The time to act is now. These proposals would reduce nearly 30 million metric tons of emissions by 2030 — a 35% reduction from current projections. And these standards and investments — with justice at their core — will grow clean energy jobs in Washington."