Tech and the environment

I-1631 will be great for our local environment and communities. New fees on carbon pollution are expected to generate more than a billion dollars which will be allocated for cleaning our air, water, forests and energy sources. I-1631 will help restore the health and beauty of our once pristine state, but will it also benefit our economy?

While the petroleum industry will surely intimidate with doomsday predictions, the truth is that I-1631 is a sensible initiative that directly earmarks carbon fees for savvy investments like renewable energies, smart grids, eco-construction and recycling programs. This bustling new sector is anticipated to create 40,000 high-quality jobs from Aberdeen to Airway Heights within the first three years. When paired with the Puget Sound region’s technological prowess, Washington is poised to become a worldwide leader in ecological innovation.

The smart money has been betting on green investments for many years and that’s why forward-looking countries like China and Germany have some of the world’s strongest economies. The petroleum industry is going the way of the dinosaurs. Future prosperity will be gained by wedding environmental restoration with technological innovation. Vote yes on I-1631.

Jon Gosch

Spokane