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Category Archives: Legislation

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Transportation Packages and a Wake-Up Call

By Kathleen Petrich on Posted in Legislation

On May 13th, less than two weeks ago, I, along with Steve Marshall, Executive Director of the Center for Advanced Transportation and Energy Solutions (CATES),  Jan Greylorn associated with the Washington Clean Technology Alliance, and Jeff Esfeld of VIA Motors, were in the Rotunda Room of the Washington State Capitol Building for a transportation “rally”… Continue Reading

Obama Budget Increases Funding for Clean Energy – But Don’t Get Too Excited Yet

By Denny Wong on Posted in Clean Energy, Department of Energy, Energy Conservation, Legislation, Renewable Energy, Tax, Tax and Tax Stimulus

President Obama has released a budget plan for the 2014 fiscal year that increases funding for the development of clean energy. Before you break out the champagne, however, keep in mind that this is just a proposal by the President and must still be approved by Congress. The plan, which was released on April 10, would:… Continue Reading

Washington Legislation Designed to Fuel Electric Car Growth?

By Judy Endejan on Posted in Electric Vehicles, Legislation

A few weeks ago, Kathleen Petrich wrote on this blog about the emergence of a new great Northwest economy:  the transportation economy based upon the development of new alternative fuel vehicles (Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3).  Specifically, electric vehicles are commonly viewed as providing the greatest potential for weaning Washingtonians from their dependence… Continue Reading

WUTC Can Drive Electric Car Development

By Judy Endejan on Posted in Alternative Fuels, Electric Vehicles, Legislation

Electric cars cannot operate without electricity.  Duhh.  And electric vehicles can’t operate without the ability to recharge their vehicle either privately at home or publicly through public electrical vehicle charging stations. So who regulates that most critical ingredient for electric vehicles, electricity?-The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission – (“WUTC”). However, the WUTC only regulates investor-owned… Continue Reading

What Does Data Show About the Economics of Regional Cap-and-Trade?

By Elaine Spencer on Posted in Alternative Fuels, Climate Change, Entrepreneurs, Legislation, Natural Resources and Environment, Renewable Energy, Sustainable Business

Back before the recession, there was a major push in Washington State to adopt a state carbon cap-and-trade program as part of Washington’s membership in the Western Climate Initiative (WCI).  The argument was heated, and like most things these days tended to split on party lines with a gulf between the two.  Democrats generally argued… Continue Reading

Energy Subsidies – Et Tu

By Denny Wong on Posted in Clean Energy, Legislation, Natural Resources and Environment, Renewable Energy, Solar

Tremendous progress has been made in the development of renewable energy in recent years. Wind, solar, biomass and geothermal energy, as well as biofuels, are providing an ever increasing share of the energy consumed in this county. Moreover, the cost of producing energy from renewable sources has come down rapidly. Yet it remains an inescapable… Continue Reading

Social Purpose Organizations: A New Way to Foster Environmental Change?

By Anne Krepick on Posted in Legislation, Sustainable Business

Traditional corporations are formed with the purpose of maximizing shareholder value. Even if it is a corporation that aims to provide technology that will save the world, investors would not invest if they didn’t expect a healthy return on their investment. I have seen entrepreneurs, investors, and VC funds champion and support great ideas aimed… Continue Reading

Merchants and Consumers: Are You Ready? Seattle Plastic Bag Ban Goes Into Effect July 1, 2012!

By Kathleen Petrich on Posted in Legislation, Natural Resources and Environment

I’m like most other Seattleites in that I voluntarily carry my canvas shopping bag or bags to my local grocery store in the hope that I am helping the environment in some small way.  I have been “educated” on the benefit:  bringing my own reusable bag cuts down on waste (less plastic bags going into… Continue Reading

Can a New Political Consensus be Found to Keep a 75-Year Supply of Natural Gas from Dooming Renewable Energy?

By Elaine Spencer on Posted in Capital and Funding, Legislation, Natural Resources and Environment, Technology

In an April 12, 2012 article in the New York Times, Jad Mouwad wrote about the transformation in United States’ energy fortunes that is fundamentally changing much of what we thought we knew about domestic and international realities.  After decades of viewing ourselves as energy depleted, he writes, the United States now finds itself cutting… Continue Reading

Energy Policy Debate Redux

By Denny Wong on Posted in Legislation, Tax, Tax and Tax Stimulus

The Senate has agreed to begin consideration of an energy tax bill (S. 2204) that will serve as the focal point of the debate over our nation’s energy policy.  The provisions of the bill clearly highlight the differences in approach favored by Republicans and by Democrats when it comes to dealing with our energy future…. Continue Reading

Energy Provisions in Budget Show President’s Priorities

By Denny Wong on Posted in Capital and Funding, Energy Conservation, Legislation, Tax and Tax Stimulus

On February 13, 2012, President Obama sent Congress a $3.8 trillion budget proposal for the 2013 fiscal year, which begins October 1. The budget proposal contains a number of energy-related provisions, including the following: Tax Credit for Wind Facilities – The U.S. Tax Code currently provides a production tax credit (PTC) for wind facilities. The… Continue Reading

The State of Cleantech in Washington, Part I: Clean Energy Leadership

By Zach Hiatt on Posted in Clean Energy, Energy Conservation, Legislation

Innovate Washington – Have you heard of it? In one of our earlier posts in October 2010, Elaine Spencer reported on the findings and recommendations of the Washington Clean Energy Leadership Council (CELC), as presented in the Council’s Clean Energy Leadership Plan Report. The CELC had been created by our state legislature in 2009 and… Continue Reading

Doubling Down on U.S. Car Efficiencies by 2025 and Our Local Opportunities

By Kathleen Petrich on Posted in Energy Conservation, Fuel Efficiency, Legislation, Patents, Technology

On November 16, 2011, President Obama and his administration made a bold announcement: The EPA and Department of Transportation reached a deal with all of the top U.S. based automakers (including Ford, GM, and Chrysler) where the annual mileage improvements will be 5% for cars in 2017. But, here’s the biggie: by 2025, these same… Continue Reading

Last Chance to Fix Up Your House and Get a Tax Break – Expiring Energy Tax Incentives for Individuals

By Denny Wong on Posted in Capital and Funding, Energy Conservation, Legislation

A number of financial incentives offered by the federal government to encourage the development and adoption of clean energy technologies and practices are set to expire at the end of 2011. We discussed one of the expiring incentives, the Section 1603 cash grant program, in an earlier blog posting. See “Last Chance to Take Advantage… Continue Reading

Washington’s Utilities and Transportation Commission Tackles the Conundrum of Distributed Energy, Part 2

By Elaine Spencer on Posted in Entrepreneurs, Legislation, Regulatory, Renewable Energy

As I tried to describe in Part 1 of this article, Washington has some structural challenges that impair its ability to develop distributed energy as a significant alternative to fossil fuel-powered electrical power generation. The regulatory system that has been built up over the last 100 years has powerful constituencies that it must protect. Those are… Continue Reading