Current Legislation

2013 Environmental Priorities:

Building a Better Future

• Clean Energy Solutions
• Conservation Works
• Toxic Free Kids and Families Act 

For 10 years, the Environmental Priorities Coalition has championed policies and programs that give Washingtonians the opportunity to have a clean, healthy, and safe environment for ourselves and our children. As it has from the beginning, Washington Environmental Council will play a leadership role within the coalition as it selects priority issues that are important to protecting our state for future generations.

In 2013, we will continue to cultivate legislative leadership and look forward to working with a promising slate of fresh faces. In light of these challenging economic times, being strategic is key — looking for opportunities to advance not only economic recovery, but new approaches to make Washington a better place to live.

That includes the responsibility to be stewards of Washington’s environment by investing in programs that protect our quality of life, creating Washington grown jobs, and building a better future for our children. Here’s more information on this year’s

Priorities:

• Clean Energy Solutions

The transition from fossil fuels to clean energy is both a climate imperative and a powerful driver for job growth and economic competitiveness. As climate impacts and ocean acidification take a growing toll, national and global competition for leadership in the clean energy economy is accelerating. Washington has the resources, the skills, and the technology base to compete and win, but neighboring states and global competitors with stronger climate and energy policies are forging ahead.
By accelerating our clean energy transition, we can drive job growth and build healthier, more prosperous communities. And by sending less of our paychecks to oil and coal companies, we can keep those energy dollars circulating through our state’s economy. This priority would drive Washington forward by developing a technology-neutral climate policy that accelerates clean energy investment and helps free consumers from the economic dead weight of fossil fuel dependence. Washington can tackle the climate challenge and grow jobs by building toward a fossil free future.

• Conservation Works

For decades, Washingtonians have supported environmental protections that ensure we have clean air to breathe, clean water to drink, and a high quality of life that attracts talent from around the world. As we move forward in our economic recovery, the state must commit to win-win projects that create local jobs now, improve the health of our environment, and make our communities more resilient in the face of flooding, fire, habitat loss, and other threats.

This Priority promotes fiscally-responsible projects that benefit the entire state by protecting Puget Sound, reducing toxic runoff, expanding recreation opportunities, and improving habitat and forest health. These projects preserve the incredible natural resources that make our state a great place to live, work, and raise a family.

• Toxics Free Kids and Families Act

Our children deserve to inherit a safe and healthy world. But today our children’s future is threatened by a chemical industry that values its own profits over the health of people and the environment. Today our homes, bodies, and environment are contaminated with cancer-causing toxic flame retardants that have escaped from foam products in our homes, like couches, changing pads, and car seats.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. We have the opportunity to protect our families, the environment, and the next generation by passing the Toxic-Free Kids and Families Act. This common sense legislation will remove unnecessary flame retardants from children’s products and furniture in our homes and prevent equally harmful chemicals from being used as replacements. Passing the bill puts us one step closer to securing a healthier and safer future for the next generation.

The 2013 Environmental Priorities seek to make our state a better place. Accomplishing this goal will take all of us working together.  

For more information, or if you have questions, email Lisa Remlinger, Environmental Priorities Coalition Outreach Director, at lisa (at) wecprotects (dot) org. 

If you’d like to get more directly involved, come to our Legislative Workshops in Bellevue and Spokane or Lobby Day in Olympia.

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