Energy

It is imperative to create and maintain an ample supply of clean energy to support Washington state’s economic competitiveness and preserve our environment. Washingtonians spend more than $28 million a day on oil and natural gas. The high price of gas hurts Washington families. Governor Gregoire knows that by keeping more of those dollars here in our state, we can help working families, strengthen our local economy and break our dependence on foreign oil.

Energy in the new millennium

• Link energy independence to the creation of new green jobs. Under Gregoire’s leadership, state government is moving Washington toward energy independence. Washington now ranks among the top five states for harnessing wind power and the top three for manufacturing the equipment to generates solar electricity. Washington exceeded its goal of 25,000 ‘green jobs’ by 2020 in 2009. Among private industries surveyed in both 2008 and 2009, green jobs grew by 15,100 (32 percent), to about 62,000 jobs.

•  Use innovative public-private partnerships. Washington State University and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland are working together at a new center for bioenergy and bio-products in the Tri-Cities area. Meanwhile, the University of Washington boasts several programs that are examining the impact of climate change.

• Be a national leader in the creation and development of green energy. Governor Gregoire has worked with several West Coast Governors and Canadian Premiers to encourage the reduction of green house gases. Learn more about the Western Climate Initiative.

Energy conservation

• Became the first state in the nation to adopt mandatory green building standards for all new public buildings. These standards require public buildings to meet high levels of energy efficiency, water conservation and other environmental protection measures. Green buildings are good for the environment and reduce energy costs, which saves taxpayers money. She received an award from the Northwest Energy Coalition for her leadership on efficiency and renewable energy.

• Reduce state government use of electricity and natural gas in buildings, saving taxpayers money while conserving resources. Energy efficiency reduces consumption and pollution, creates jobs and makes our economy more efficient. Since 2006, state government reduced electricity use on the Capitol Campus by 32.5 percent and natural gas use by 4 percent.

   

Renewable energy production

• Increase energy production from renewable resources. Clean energy, such as wind power, biomass and biofuels, is particularly valuable to the agricultural economy as another “crop” that our farmers can harvest.

• Partner with world-class research institutions and entrepreneurial companies. The next generation of cutting-edge energy technologies, like ethanol from wheat straw and wood waste or controls to make the electricity grid “smarter”, can be developed in partnership with Washington’s world-class research institutions and entrepreneurial companies. Greater use of renewable resources will reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and diversify our supplies, increasing the security of our sources of energy.

The future of biofuels

• Produce biofuels from crops that can be grown and processed in our own state. Governor Gregoire helped provide a new market for Washington grown energy crops like canola or mustard by requiring fuel suppliers in Washington to ensure that two percent of Washington’s fuel supply comes from renewable fuel sources. The Governor has invested money in research for the next generation of alternative fuels that would come from agricultural and timber waste, so we can avoid the food or fuel debate and turn something that is currently a waste into an alternative to imported oil.

• Promote private investment in the biofuels industry. Governor Gregoire passed legislation that provides financial assistance for the infrastructure necessary to support a clean fuel industry, such as seed crushers and anaerobic digesters.