Gov. Gregoire announces follow up actions after trip to Copenhagen climate summit

For Immediate Release: December 23, 2009

OLYMPIA � Gov. Chris Gregoire today, following her trip to the United Nations climate summit in Copenhagen, announced follow up steps to help the state continue to combat climate change and move toward a clean-energy economy.

�Others in Copenhagen were surprised to hear that the states are actually leaders on clean energy and climate change,� Gregoire said. �I made it clear the states have been and continue to make considerable progress in reducing emissions of green house gas. While in Copenhagen, along with other local government leaders, I agreed to take additional actions to move our state and nation toward a clean energy future. I�m following up on that promise today.�

Gregoire today announced nearly $5 million in Recovery Act grants to help businesses, non-profit groups and government agencies pay for energy efficiency retrofits in residential, commercial, non-profit, and low-income housing facilities. The Department of Commerce will distribute the funding. With the funding, grant recipients will team with banks and other financial institutions, putting them on solid financial footing for an expected $50 million in loans to support energy efficiency projects. The loans will be paid back through energy savings � so homeowners and businesses have no out-of-pocket expense.

The projects completed through this funding are expected to create 500 jobs, and save enough energy to power 4,700 households a year.

�There are enormous opportunities in energy efficiency � the more power we save, the less we spend on our bills and the fewer costly power plants we have to build,� Gregoire said. �In fact, the cost savings alone can pay for the energy efficiency improvements.�

�This program puts energy efficiency upgrades within reach of many more families and businesses than ever before,� said Commerce Director Rogers Weed, �It will offer important short-term and long-term benefits in the form of more comfortable homes and workplaces, energy cost savings, and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.�

Organizations awarded credit enhancement grant funding include:
� Avista Utilities, Spokane -- $1,000,000
� City of Bellingham -- $500,000
� Washington State Housing Finance Commission -- $1,000,000
� City of Seattle -- $1,000,000
� Sustainable Works, Greater Puget Sound and Greater Spokane areas -- $960,000
� Thurston County Economic Development Council -- $500,000

Gregoire also announced today she has tasked Washington State Department of Ecology Director Ted Sturdevant with developing business practices and strategies to lead the state to carbon neutrality, beginning with Ecology. She has asked Sturdevant to report on the department�s progress so that it can become a model for other agencies, as well as private businesses and households.

�It�s my goal that state government be carbon neutral by 2020,� Gregoire said. �And I�m counting on the Ecology team to show us how to reach that goal.�

�To protect our quality of life, we have to find new approaches that let us live our lives and do our work while emitting less carbon,� said Sturdevant. �It makes sense for the state�s environmental agency to help find those solutions � especially those that also save money � and share what we learn with others.�

Ecology will now look for new opportunities to reduce costs and the agency�s carbon footprint.

Likely strategies include purchasing electric vehicles when they are available and when the infrastructure is in place to support them, increasing the use of certified renewable energy (called Green Tags), and increasing the agency�s success at eliminating waste and turning waste into resources.