News

Thankfully, the 2009 regular session is now over. The environmental community brought an ambitious agenda into the session and we ran into a buzzsaw caused by a deep recession, concern about unemployment, and an unprecedented budget deficit. We are disappointed only one out of the four environmental community priorities passed, but we survived this brutal session without any major rollbacks, and managed to pass some good legislation on energy efficiency, renewable energy, and transportation.

Efficiency First plan would lower energy costs, create jobs and enhance energy security for Washington State

 OLYMPIA, Wash. -- The Washington State Legislature last night approved a bill to dramatically improve energy efficiency in buildings throughout the state. Now headed for Gov. Chris Gregoire’s desk, SB 5854 would gradually raise standards for new building construction, while improving energy efficiency in existing public buildings through insulation, better windows and improved heating and cooling systems.

Maybe you've already changed all your incandescent light bulbs to compact fluorescents. And this past winter you turned down the thermostat by 2 degrees. You're saving energy and money, and reducing your carbon footprint. But we all need to go the extra mile to wrangle the climate-change challenge and create a clean energy future.

The coolest thing is: We've got what we need - the technology and "can do" spirit. Click here for information that could help you kick it up a notch in your home when it comes to energy savings and reducing your carbon footprint:

By Ethan Bergerman

Coal is so last century. Coal mining destroys mountains and prairies. Coal creates more global warming pollution than any other energy source. Coal spews toxins into our air, water, and communities. In Washington State, we still use dirty coal.

Washington State can move beyond coal with your help.

Click here to send a message to Governor Gregoire asking her to stand up for public health, clean renewable energy, good green jobs, and a green economy in the Northwest.

If you or your candidate would like to be considered for Sierra Club Cascade Chapter political endorsement, please let us know by May 1. If you know the leadership of your local Sierra Club group, you may contact them directly. Otherwise, you may notify the Cascade Chapter Political Chair, Scott Otterson

By Ben Greuel

On Monday, March 30th President Barack Obama signed the Omnibus Public Lands Act (S.22) therefore designating over 2 million acres of wilderness in 16 areas and in 9 different states. The signing was a huge victory in the effort to protect our public lands. Though Washington State was left out of this round of wilderness bills, our wilderness champions are working hard at protecting our precious public lands.

On Thursday, March 26th, four days before President Obama signed the Omnibus Public Lands Act, Senator Patty Murray and Congressman Dave Reichert introduced the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Additions and Pratt and Middle Fork Snoqualmie Rivers Protection Act” - this joint legislation will help ensure the future of some of Washington’s most popular backcountry recreation areas by designating more than 22,000 acres of wilderness adjacent to the existing Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area. The legislation will also protect nearly 30 miles of the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River and 10 miles of the Pratt River as Wild and Scenic Rivers.

Now is the time for kindness, compassion, and respect.

Even though many of us feel strongly about what has been happening in Olympia regarding the potential changes to I-937, I am respectfully requesting in the strongest way I can that you sit back for a moment, and with a calm, clear mind think about the bigger picture of what is happening, what our best friends in the Legislature are dealing with, and what we can do to improve the situation.

The Senate and House are both planning to release their budgets this week. In a word, the budgets will be terrible. The state is facing an unprecedented $9 billion budget deficit.

Final House Passage of Measure Expected Next Week

Washington, D.C.- The Senate voted today to safeguard millions of acres of new wilderness, protect hundreds of miles of rivers, expand trails, and protect critical habitat in Wyoming from oil and gas leasing. This is the bill's last stop in the Senate, with final passage in the House of Representatives expected to come next week.The Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 (H.R. 146) passed on a vote of 77 to 20.

SB 5840 undermines Washington’s clean-energy leadership

The Sierra Club is disappointed in the Washington State Senate’s Tuesday-night passage of a bill that would severely cut renewable energy standards set by public vote in 2006. To read the Press Release and for more information, click here.

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