Gov. Gregoire accepts report, calls for continued work to fight climate change

For Immediate Release: February 6, 2008

OLYMPIA � Governor Chris Gregoire today hailed a new report as a key step toward shaping actions to limit and respond to climate change in Washington.

The Governor accepted �Leading the Way on Climate Change: the Challenge of Our Time� at the Washington Public Utility Districts Association headquarters in Olympia.

�Climate change is the defining environmental challenge of our generation. How we respond will tell everything about who we are -- as a people and a state,� said Governor Gregoire. �It's a challenge that we must address to ensure we leave future generations a cleaner, healthier Washington state.�

One year ago, the governor issued an Executive Order that established goals for reductions in climate pollution, increases in jobs, and reductions in spending on imported fuel.

"Thanks to the Governor's leadership on climate change," said House Ecology and Parks Chair Dave Upthegrove (D-Des Moines), "I am optimistic that we can deliver real results in the legislature this year."

The Governor has asked the 2008 Legislature to adopt her legislation, developed with the business and environmental communities, that will lead the state�s work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, provide an increase in well-paying jobs in the clean energy sector, and continue pressing to reduce Washington�s dependence on foreign fuels.

Governor Gregoire recognizes Washington is especially vulnerable to the changing climate, but we are also positioned to succeed in the clean energy economy. Under her leadership, we have already taken steps to strengthen emission standards, build the biofuels industry and promote renewable sources of energy.

The Governor accepted the interim report from Ecology Director Jay Manning and CTED Director Juli Wilkerson, who co-chaired the state�s Climate Advisory Team. �Leading the Way on Climate Change� contains:

• Directional recommendations from the Climate Advisory Team on actions and strategies that the state can use to reduce climate-changing greenhouse gas emissions. Team members will continue working in 2008 to develop specific details on possible actions and strategies. They expect to produce a final report before year's end.



• Recommendations from the state�s Preparation and Adaptation Work Groups that are meant to help guide preparations for inevitable impacts from climate change.



• A framework for involving citizens in efforts to limit and respond to climate change.

The PUD Association building where the event was held today, is expected to be certified as the first LEED Platinum new construction in the state. It represents cornerstones of the state�s response to climate change, including energy efficiency, use of alternative power sources, and an effort to grow Washington�s clean economy. The building has the largest rooftop solar-power system in the state. It generates more power than it uses, and transfers the rest back to Puget Sound Energy and the regional power grid.

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