OLYMPIA -- Global climate change is real, the Senate said today after a bit of parliamentary wrangling. It may be caused by humans -- but may not be.

Senators argued over a change to a bill that would make changes to the state's Energy Independence Act, which requires utilities to get a certain percentage of their power from renewable sources. Before senators could vote on the bill, however, they were faced with a request to amend the legislation by adding a statement of intent that said global climate change is real and is caused by human activity.

Sen. Doug Ericksen, R-Ferndale, argued that was outside the scope of the bill, but Lt. Gov. Brad Owen, who presides over the Senate, disagreed. Republicans then put the debate on hold, while Ericksen crafted an amendment to the amendment that stated climate change was real and may be caused by human activity.

Not far enough, argued some Democrats, because it leaves open the possibility that it's not caused by human activity, even though many scientific studies say it is. Ericksen said there are other studies to the contrary, and the Senate could spend all day arguing over them. The amendment to the amendment passed, and became part of the SB 5735. 

The bill, which allows utilities to invest in carbon reduction strategies as part of their requirements for meeting energy conservation targets required by votes under Initiative 937, passed 26-23.

 

---

---