Tag Archives: Jay Inslee

Q&A: Washington Gov. Jay Inslee Aims For 100% Clean Electricity By 2045

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent

Washington Governor Jay Inslee announced his aggressive plans to reduce the state’s carbon emissions. As part of those plans, he has pledged the state to get to 100% clean energy by 2045, following California and several other states who have decided to decarbonize tehir electrical systems. He talked with SolarWakeup about the decision.

SolarWakeup: Where does Washington currently stand in its clean energy development?

Washington Governor Jay Inslee: Washington’s electricity is about 75% carbon free, predominantly hydro. You can find more information here and here.

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SolarWakeup: What first inspired you to decide to set 2045 as a 100% clean electricity date?

Jay Inslee: This timeline sets a reasonable glide path for depreciating long-lived infrastructure and allows for innovation to continue to make clean energy more affordable. Utilities conduct resource planning over 20-year horizons, so we believe this timeline gives them plenty of time to plan ahead. It is also consistent with timelines already adopted by Hawaii and California.

SolarWakeup: How is Washington going to get there?

Jay Inslee: That will be determined through thoughtful implementation of the policy by individual utilities. We expect renewables, energy efficiency, energy storage, demand response, and further regional grid integration to all play a role.

SolarWakeup: What percentage would you say will be solar?

Jay Inslee: Because electricity system planning is conducted on a utility-by-utility basis, we do not have an estimate for how much solar will be developed.

SolarWakeup: Do you have any concerns about the aggressiveness of your goal?

Jay Inslee: No. Many utilities will reach the standard before 2045.

SolarWakeup: Do you have the backing in the legislature to make your goal a reality?

Jay Inslee: Yes. We have support in both the House and the Senate and the bill is a 2019 legislative priority of the environmental priorities coalition.

SolarWakeup: What else would you like the rest of the country to know about Washington’s commitment to 100% clean electricity?

Jay Inslee: Because of our legacy of clean, renewable hydroelectricity, and history of leadership in energy efficiency, Washington is uniquely positioned to meet this standard. We are also at a critical juncture to replace legacy coal power plants in the region, and we believe most of the transformation will happen by 2030.

Panel Says We Will Win The Climate Change Battle (Their Mouths To Universe’s Ears)

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent

What Happened: The Center for America Progress (CAP) held its IDEAS conference yesterday, and the most interesting discussion with Amy Harder with Washington Governor Jay Inslee, progressive activist Tom Steyer and Senior Vice President of Climate, Environmental Justice & Community Revitalization, Hip Hop Caucus Mustafa Ali.

  • Washington State has one of the most progressive solar policy structures in the United States, and Inslee says he believes that progress will continue in the form of the first carbon tax, which is on the ballot as an initiative in his state.
  • Steyer said – again – that he believes the only way climate change will be defeated is as part of broader coalition that wins elections and makes a strong pitch for community solar.
  • Ali made the critical point that the United States must fight climate change in a way that doesn’t just push it to underservered, low-income communities.

    • climate change

    SolarWakeup’s View:  At yesterday’s Center for American Progress (CAP) Ideas Conference, Axios reporter Amy Harder sat down with Washington Governor Jay Inslee, progressive activist Tom Steyer and Senior Vice President of Climate, Environmental Justice & Community Revitalization, Hip Hop Caucus Mustafa Ali, to discuss climate change. What ensued was a fascinating discussion that lasted about 10 minutes and I’m sure will be its own video at some point, like CAP did last year (right now it’s smack in the middle of an eight-hour video of the entire conference).

    Several interesting things did come out of the discussion, including:

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  • Inslee is either running for president in 2020 or at least broadening his national profile so he can be part of the next Democratic administration. Oh, and he touted Washington’s work on climate change, including a carbon “fee” that will be on the ballot in November, which he believes will pass overwhelmingly.
  • Steyer, who in case you haven’t been paying attention is backing two critical pro-solar initiatives in Michigan and Nevada, said he believes climate change can’t be a stand-alone issue and that it has to be part of a larger progressive agenda to bring a coalition of people to the polls in November.
  • Ali focused on the importance of making sure underserved and low-income communities aren’t left behind in the climate change battle, saying the overall benefits – cleaner air and water, for example – should also be tied to jobs in those communities (which allowed Inslee to pipe up and tout his own state’s solar plan which, he says, invests money specifically to address the problems Ali highlighted).

    • The whole discussion is interesting and worth your time. I did a nice thing for you and shared the link that starts at the beginning of the panel. So go watch it now (and listen especially to Ali – his points are important additions to the discussion and are critical to its success).

    More:

    CAP IDEAS Conference discussion of climate change: