Governor Gregoire Joins with President Obama to Cut Global Warming Pollution, Grow the Clean Energy Economy

Watch King5 coverage of Governor Gregoire signing the executive order.

SEATTLE – Today, Governor Christine Gregoire signed an executive order that signals Washington state’s commitment to maintain its leadership role growing the clean energy economy and limiting pollution. The announcement of the executive order immediately followed the Governor’s testimony supporting the Environmental Protection Agency’s finding that greenhouse gas emissions pose a danger to human health. This finding allows EPA to limit greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act.

“On a day when Washingtonians are pouring out in record numbers to let the EPA know they support action on climate change, it’s immensely exciting to see Governor Gregoire demonstrate her tenacity and continued leadership on climate change,” said Joan Crooks, executive director of Washington Environmental Council.

Thousands of people are expected to rally at noon outside the EPA hearing to demonstrate their support for federal action to limit global warming pollution.

The Governor’s executive order puts Washington on track to reduce the state’s global warming pollution and accelerate the transition from fossil fuels to a stronger clean energy economy. Specifically, it will:

• start a process to ensure the state will meet the pollution limits adopted by the Legislature in 2008. These actions can be utilized if Congress does not pass comprehensive climate policy in time for the state to meet its 2020 limit; 
• provide Washingtonians with cleaner fuels to power our vehicles;
• reduce traffic (and thus emissions) in congested urban areas;
• drastically cut pollution from or phase out operations of Washington’s one major coal plant;
• and keep the state engaged in the Western Climate Initiative, a regional program to reduce global warming pollution, while actively supporting federal programs to reduce pollution.
  

“It is very exciting to see actions to fight global warming moving forward in both Washingtons,” said KC Golden, policy director at Climate Solutions. “Last year, our state spent over $16 billion to import fossil fuels. Now more than ever, we need to reverse that course and work towards a clean energy future. This is an important step towards that goal.”