Gov. Gregoire�s statement on dismissal of lawsuit challenging Governor�s executive order on climate change

For Immediate Release: October 22, 2010

OLYMPIA � Gov. Chris Gregoire today issued the following statement on the decision to dismiss a lawsuit challenging the governor�s executive order on climate change:

�I was delighted, but not surprised to learn that a lawsuit challenging my May 2009 executive order on climate change has been dismissed.

�The plaintiffs, who were represented by attorneys for the Evergreen Freedom Foundation, dropped the litigation in the wake of a Superior Court ruling on Oct. 8 that Executive Order 09-05 directs agencies to do work that is well within their authority, and mine. It has long been established law that an executive order may be a directive from the governor communicating to state agencies what the governor wants the agency to accomplish. I do not understand why this lawsuit was brought. I also don�t understand why they waited more than a year after the order was issued to take action.

�This is a win for Washingtonians. It allows our state agencies to get on with their important work of reducing the very real impact of greenhouse gas emissions. The dismissal also means we will not be forced to spend more taxpayer dollars to defend our agency work against plaintiffs� attempts to obtain a court injunction. Meanwhile, the agencies are nearing completion of the work that I directed them to do through my Executive Order. I couldn�t be more pleased with the result of the order and the dismissal of this litigation.�

The EO directed several state agencies to:

� Consult with companies that emit 25,000 metric tons of greenhouse gases or more each year in developing emission strategies and industry benchmarks to help meet the state�s greenhouse gas reduction targets.

� Work with TransAlta to develop a voluntary agreement to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the company�s coal-fired power plant near Centralia.

� Work together with forest landowners to develop recommendations for a forestry offset program and other financial incentives for the forestry and forest products industry.

� Recommend whether or not the state should adopt a low-carbon fuel standard to reduce carbon emissions from the transportation sector.

� Join with neighboring states to obtain federal funding to implement a West Coast highway accessible to electric and alternative-fuel vehicles.

� Develop guidelines to address rising sea levels and the risks to water supplies.

� Formulate plans to increase transit options, such as buses, light rail, and ride-share programs, and give Washington residents more choices for reducing the effect of transportation emissions.

� Continue to work with six other Western states and four Canadian provinces in the Western Climate Initiative to develop a regional emissions reduction program.

� Work with the Obama Administration and the state�s Congressional delegation to help design a national emission reduction program that is strong and reflects state priorities.