Gov. Gregoire signs Energy Independence Pledge

For Immediate Release: October 2, 2008

OLYMPIA�Gov. Chris Gregoire today joined T. Boone Pickens in his call for an energy independence plan, to be enacted within the new presidential administration�s first 100 days.

�I am pleased to join thousands of Washingtonians in support of the Pickens Plan,� Gregoire said. �We can and must reduce our dependence on imported fuel and increase our use of clean, domestic energy supplies.�

Pickens� plan calls on the next president and congress to enact an energy strategy that reduces the nation�s foreign oil dependence by at least 30 percent over the next 10 years. The plan calls for the use of proven American technology and resources, the development of new energy sources, and the expansion of the national electrical grid.

�Pickens puts a lot of emphasis on wind power,� Gregoire said. �He understands the value of this natural resource. So does Washington. That�s why our state is currently the fifth top producer of wind power nationally. Communities in Eastern and Western Washington are benefitting from the growth of wind power in our state, and we need a strong federal partner to continue this progress.�

"Governor Gregoire is a national leader in energy. I am honored to have her joining me in the fight to make energy independence the top priority of the next administration," said T. Boone Pickens. "Washingtonians have visited www.pickensplan.com in droves, and now with the support of their governor we can work together to reduce foreign oil dependency by at least 30% over the next decade."

During Gregoire�s administration, Washington has made significant investments in clean energy, which are expected to reduce the state�s emissions levels by as much as 40 percent by 2020, and grow the economy. In March, 2008, Gregoire signed the �Climate Action and Green Jobs� bill, which sets a goal of creating 25,000 green collar jobs by 2020. In 2005, Gregoire signed �Clean Car� legislation, meant to reduce greenhouse emissions and dependence on foreign oil. Washington now has the largest state fleet of hybrid vehicles in the nation.

In addition, Gregoire supported Initiative 937, which passed and requires our largest utilities to pursue energy efficiency and renewable resources. To encourage the development of alternative and renewable fuels, Gregoire supported alternative-fuels research and development programs at Washington State University and the University of Washington. Washington now boasts businesses converting algae to biodiesel, building components for solar panels and turning garbage into ethanol.

�Washington state hasn�t, and won�t wait for the federal government to take the lead to address our dependence on foreign oil and climate change,� Gregoire said. �We will need to look at more clean, domestic energy supplies than even the Pickens Plan contains, and we�ll need all the partners we can find. That�s why I signed the Pickens Pledge, and now hope Washington gains a federal ally when a new administration is elected in November.�