State Senate GOP seeks to change clean energy rules

OLYMPIA – Republican legislators want to change the state law that says rivers and streams are not a renewable energy source.

A Senate bill would allow electric utilities to spend less on renewable energy but get more of it from hydroelectric dams. State law requires that utilities get at least 9 percent of their power from renewable sources.

But the 2006 voter initiative that created the law ruled out hydropower when it required utilities to spend 4 percent of their revenue on renewable sources. Dams produce no carbon emissions but pose a threat to migrating salmon and other marine life.

Utilities now get most of their renewable power from windmills.

Under the bill sponsored by Sen. Doug Ericksen, the spending requirement would be lowered to 1 percent, and hydropower would be classified as a renewable energy source.

“Over the years, Initiative 937 has forced investments in Washington state, specifically on the production of windmills,” said Ericksen, R-Ferndale, who added that wind energy is significantly more expensive than hydropower.

As utilities buy renewable energy from other states, a significant amount of money flows out of Washington, Ericksen said. And by requiring utilities to invest in windmills, he said, the current law is driving up home energy rates.

“We built the windmills. They’re here to stay,” Ericksen said. “But going forward we should review our legislation.”

The bill got a hearing Thursday in the Senate Energy, Environment and Telecommunications Committee, where Ericksen is chairman. Some worried the lower spending requirement would slow, or even reverse, the process of cutting carbon emissions. A 2008 law requires Washington to cut 25 percent of its emissions by 2035.

“I seriously question whether this bill would achieve those standards,” said Sen. John McCoy, D-Tulalip.

Ericksen said the 1 percent requirement was a recommendation from electric utilities that support his bill. They would rather invest in cheaper hydropower, which already accounts for about three-quarters of Washington’s electricity.

The bill is one of five in a broad Senate package that has support from both parties. Ericksen said the package would reduce energy costs and create jobs in manufacturing. A bill in the House, sponsored by Dan Griffey, R-Allyn, would simply add hydropower to the list of accepted renewable resources.