The Blog

Governor Chris Gregoire Governor Chris Gregoire

01/29/09

Since I took office more than four years ago, I’ve been working hard to prepare the state of Washington to be competitive in the 21st century. Part of our future is a green economy.

Yesterday, I submitted legislation to cap greenhouse gas emissions among our big energy producers and create market incentives to drive reductions in climate-changing greenhouse gas pollution. 

I am also asking the Legislature to approve a tax exemption for a new generation of plug-in electric vehicles. This move will further encourage manufacturers to build, and Washingtonians to buy, efficient and truly “clean” cars. In addition, I’m asking the State Building Code Council to improve building energy efficiency by 30 percent beyond the 2006 standards.

These steps will reduce climate-changing greenhouse gas pollution, create thousands of green-collar jobs, stimulate the economy, promote energy independence and strengthen Washington’s competitiveness in the global race for a clean-energy economy.

We must make wise investments now to move more quickly into a 21st century future of green-collar jobs and a cleaner, safer environment. When the economy turns around — and it will —Washington will have created a stronger marketplace for innovation and technology that will attract new industries to our state while protecting the planet for all of us.