Renewables Standard Opponents Try to Dilute Washington State's I-937

February 10, 2009

Wind Energy Weekly

The Renewable Northwest Project (RNP) and other renewable energy
supporters have been working hard to fend off recent attempts to modify and weaken Washington's renewable energy standard (RES) by
adding amendments that would allow energy-efficiency gains, old
renewable resources, and a wider array of sources to count toward the
standard.
In the name of the troubled economy, opponents have been working
to expand the definition of "qualifying renewables"-a change that,
according to RNP, would have the net effect of reducing demand for new
renewable energy in the state. Currently, based on an analysis
conducted by RNP, 13 of the 17 utilities that must comply with the RES
are clearly on a path to achieving the first benchmark of 3% by 2012.
The RES requires that 15% of the electricity from the state's largest
utilities come from renewable resources by 2020.

Pressing legislators to introduce a host of amendments-over 13 in
total-to the state's enacted RES legislation, known as I-937, are a
group of public utilities, investor-owned utility Avista, and several
large industrial users. During a February 4 hearing before the Senate
Environment, Water, and Energy Committee, members listened to
testimony on five of the bills that are potentially most damaging to
renewables.
While the Senators pledge to hold substantive negotiating
sessions to try and find common ground, expert state political
observers predict the committee will move a bill to the full Senate
that contains enough expansions to I-937's current list of eligible
renewable sources to slow Washington's clean energy expansion.
Meanwhile, on the House side, Technology, Energy, and Communication
Chair John McCoy (D) has done a stellar job of managing the multitude
of efforts to amend I-937, according to RNP. Negotiations with
stakeholders are expected to continue through next week; the cutoff
date to move bills out of committee is February 25.
Allies involved in these negotiations are hopeful McCoy will produce a final
bill designed to improve I-937's implementation and increase the
renewable standard to 20% by 2025. Should both Washington legislative
bodies succeed in their effort to produce bills amending I-937, the
showdown between them would stretch through the end of April.
Wind industry members have played a key role in educating
legislators and Governor Christine Gregoire (D) on the importance of
preserving I-937.
Gregoire has responded by reiterating her support for I-937,
steadfastly arguing against any legislation that would weaken its
ability to strengthen Washington's renewable energy supply and create
jobs for rural communities.

"The recent turn of events in the Washington legislature is
particularly troubling," said Rachel Shimshak, executive director of
RNP, an AWEA regional partner. "I-937 has already shown that it is an
excellent piece of legislation, and weakening it will only hurt
Washington. We commend Governor Gregoire for standing behind this
landmark law which, if left alone, can continue to create jobs and
foster the development of clean, renewable energy."