Climate Fast Facts: Washington

Clean Businesses (2007)	Clean Jobs (2007)	Clean Job Growth (1998-2007)	Overall Job Growth (1998-2007)	Jobs Lost (2008-2009)

2,008	17,013	o.5%	1.3%	140,000

Climate & Energy Resources

Latest Climate Science (Union of Concerned Scientists)
Global Warming & Washington (National Wildlife Federation)
Cost of Delay (Environmental Defense Fund)
Meeting the International Clean Energy and Climate Change Challenges (The White House)

Jobs

Washingtonians can expect big things from the clean energy economy. The state could gain 34,000 jobs and about $3.2 billion in investment revenue if $150 billion was invested in clean energy nationwide, and drop unemployment by 0.9 percent.

Clean-Energy Investments Create Jobs in Washington (Center for American Progress/PERI)
Washington: Green Prosperity and Poverty Reduction (Natural Resources Defense Council)
Washington’ Road to Energy Independence (Blue Green Alliance)
Clean Energy Jobs in Washington (Environmental Defense Fund)
Clean Energy and Climate Policies Lead to Economic Growth in Washington (Environmental Entrepreneurs)

Opportunity

Washington State predicts to be a powerhouse of the clean energy economy. The state ranks fifth nationally in wind power, and fourth nationally in clean energy venture capital investments. Under the ACES bill Washington would receive $680 million for expanded energy efficiency investments, $199 million for natural gas efficiency investments.

ACES Funding for Efficiency Investments- WA (Environment Northeast)
Charting a New Path for Washington’ Electricity Generation and Use (National Wildlife Federation)
The Clean Energy Economy: Washington (Pew Center)
Renewable Energy Works: Washington

Cut Costs

The average family in Washington would save $5.18 per month on their energy bills and $9.82 per month on vehicle fuel costs if the American Clean Energy and Security Act was enacted.

Climate Bill Cuts Electricity Bills (Natural Resources Defense Council)
Climate-Protection Policies Cut Fuel Bills (Natural Resources Defense Council)
Summary of Competitiveness Provisions in ACES (Center for Clean Air Policy)
Clean Energy, Green Jobs: A National Renewable Electricity Standard Will Boost the Economy and Protect the Environment (Union of Concerned Scientists)

Climate Consequences

Temperatures in Washington are expected to rise 5°F by 2050. Early snowmelts not only affect tourism and recreation, but limit spring water supplies used for drinking, agriculture and forest fire mitigation. Early spring runoff from the Cascades could decline by 40 percent by 2040. Sea-level rise will also disrupt infrastructure along the populous Puget Sound region.

Protecting Washington’s Economy, Communities and Environment from Global Warming (Wildernes Society)
Global Climate Change Impacts on the U.S.: Northwest Assessment (Union of Concerned Scientists)
Hotter Fields, Lower Yields: Global Warming's Impact on Agriculture (Environment America)

Climate Change in the United States: The Prohibitive Costs of Inaction (Union of Concerned Scientists)

State Actions

While Congress debates climate and energy legislation on the Hill, Washington has enacted a set of progressive climate measures of its own. The state is a member of the Western Climate Initiative cap-and-trade system, and has set an emissions target of 1990 levels by 2020. The state has written a climate action plan, has set energy efficient resource standards and has set a renewable fuel standard in addition to financial incentives for biofuels. The state also has set renewable energy portfolio standard of 15 percent by 2020.