Democrats to target coal plants

OLYMPIA – Democrats in the Washington Senate want to follow California’s lead in prohibiting utilities from entering long-term contracts with coal-fired power plants as part of an effort to combat climate change.

The idea is one several lawmakers plan to introduce Wednesday.

Sen. Erik Poulsen, D-Seattle and sponsor of the omnibus measure, said “a new sense of urgency” was created by a report Friday by scientists from 113 countries, indicating that global warming is real and unstoppable for centuries to come.

“It requires us to take a broader approach instead of the piecemeal strategy we’ve been relying on thus far,” said Poulsen, chairman of the Senate Water, Energy & Telecommunications Committee.

The bill includes performance standards that will mirror California’s regarding emissions of greenhouse gases blamed for global warming, Poulsen said.