Governor Jay Inslee recently signed Executive Order 14-04, which outlines a series of next steps to reduce carbon pollution in Washington state and improve energy independence through the use of clean energy.
The Executive Order builds upon earlier studies and work groups to take action in 7 key areas:
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Carbon emission – Gov. Inslee has established a Carbon Emissions Reduction Taskforce to provide recommendations on the design and implementation of a market-based carbon pollution program.
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Coal-fired electricity imported from other states ("coal-by-wire") – State agencies are directed to work with key utilities to reduce, and eventually eliminate, the use of electrical power produced by coal.
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Clean transportation – The greatest percentage of carbon emissions come from cars, trucks and other transportation-related sources. The state Department of Transportation will lead an effort with other agencies and governments to promote strategies, policies and investments that support electrification of our transportation system, lower-emission multi-modal options, and clean fuels.
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Clean technology – The state Department of Commerce will work with Washington State University and others on a program to develop and deploy new renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies, including those with an emphasis on solar power.
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Energy efficiency – One of the most cost-effective strategies for reducing carbon emissions is to use energy more efficiently. The state Department of Commerce is directed to work with WSU and others to significantly improve the energy performance of public and private buildings.
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State government operations – The state Department of Enterprise Services will lead efforts to achieve carbon reduction and energy efficiency improvements throughout state government including meeting goals established by Gov. Inslee’s Results Washington.
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Carbon pollution limits – The state Department of Ecology will review the state’s greenhouse gas emission limits and recommend updates.