Background

Access to clean, reliable, and affordable energy is crucial to the well-being of people and the planet. Currently, about 73% of global greenhouse gas emissions come from the energy sector (including energy production and use). The majority of this is due to electricity being produced through the burning of fossil fuels, like coal and natural gas. However, renewable energy sources like solar and wind power are rapidly developing across the globe and in the U.S. Energy demand is expected to increase in the coming years as people electrify their homes with heat pumps and switch to electric vehicles. It is critical that clean and efficient energy infrastructure is developed to meet these needs. A 2022 NREL study finds that solar, wind and batteries are the least cost option to transitioning to 100% renewable energy, but in order to meet renewable energy goals, deployment must increase rapidly. 

In Washington State, a majority of our electricity comes from hydropower (~65%). This makes our energy sector relatively low-carbon compared to other states. Of course, hydropower is not a perfect energy source - its impacts on salmon recovery and tribal sovereignty are well documented. And as droughts become more frequent under climate change, the reliability of hydropower is called into question. A diverse system that balances a variety of power generating systems (wind, solar, hydro, and geothermal to name a few) would add much needed resilience to our energy infrastructure. A renewable energy grid is also critical to effective climate action in many other sectors. We won’t be able to meet our goals in areas like housing and transportation without access to renewables.

In 2019, Washington passed the Clean Energy Transformation Act (CETA), requiring the state's electricity to be 100% clean by 2045. While it is great we have set this goal, now we need to make sure our state can meet it. It seems that Washington utilities might not be on track to meet CETA goals. 

Transmission in Washington is currently a huge barrier to building out renewable energy. The current power lines running from Eastern Washington, where there are the resources for building large wind and solar installations, to Western Washington where the population centers lie and electricity is needed, are currently at maximum capacity. In order for more renewables to be built, the transmission system in Washington State needs to be updated, requiring new transmission lines to be built and updating existing transmission infrastructure using grid enhancing technologies (GETS). 

Distributed energy can play an important role in increasing electricity capacity while reducing the need to invest in infrastructure upgrades - a win-win for meeting clean energy goals and keeping electricity prices low. 

Access to clean and sustainable energy sources does still pose challenges, especially to low-income and marginalized communities. Solar panels, for example, while growing more affordable every year, still have significant up-front costs. They are also not as accessible to renters or people without a roof. While we encourage the adoption of these technologies for those that can afford them, we also support alternatives like community solar that bring the benefits to a wider range of people. Further, it is important that the creation of these renewable energy systems do not further perpetuate systemic harms against indigenous peoples. The siting of wind and solar farms as well as the extraction of materials for these technologies can threaten indigenous lands and ways of life if not done thoughtfully (an issue now being termed ‘green colonialism’).

Another recent element posing barriers to meeting clean energy goals and ensuring equitable and affordable energy access is the potential growth of data centers, which could require 2-3 times as much energy as some utilities in Washington are currently providing. It is vital that the growth of this industry does not impair our climate goals, negatively impact natural resources, or increase electricity costs for average consumers.

The energy transition is coming, and is essential to combat the growing harms on our planet and communities posed by climate change. Renewable energy will reduce greenhouse gas emissions as well as local impacts to community health. It will also add much needed stability and resilience to our energy system. Additionally, the transition to clean energy drives job creation in manufacturing, installation, and maintenance, providing economic opportunities, particularly in underserved areas. We are eager to support legislation in Washington that facilitates a sustainable and just energy transition.