SPEECH President's Message

by Janine Gates

When Joanne McCaughan, Managing Editor for the South Sound Green Pages, suggested that this issue cover topics about air, I thought 'Great!' But then, I admit, my mind drifted to my childhood memory of Bill Cosby's hilarious "Why Is There Air?" album (the answer is to blow up basketballs...)

Comedy aside, I don't think Cosby was pondering global warming, climate change, coal-fired power plants and vehicle emissions, which combined, account for about half of the nation's global-warming pollution. Now, the federal Clean Air Act, which is nearly 40 years old and set good standards at that time, is threatened by stagnation. President Obama wants to breathe fresh air into it by using the Act to limit greenhouse gas emissions through the Environmental Protection Agency, but this approach is being attacked by the U.S. Chambers of Commerce.

The American Clean Energy and Security Act, passed by the U.S. House in June mandates a 50 percent carbon reduction by 2025 for new coal-fired power plants, but puts no requirements on existing facilities.

What does this mean for our local Trans-Alta coal-fired power plant facility in Centralia, whose contract was just renewed? Will they have free reign to continue to spew pollution or receive incentives to produce more power when they should just shut down and convert jobs and technology to clean energy options? These issues and an update on Trans-Alta's permit negotiations were heard in a work session of the Washington State Senate's Environment, Water & Energy committee in early October. Be sure to contact your legislators if you care about this issue. Our own South Sound Senator Karen Fraser serves on this committee.

Change is in the air too, with our local city council, port, and county commissioner races. The outcome of these races will have an impact on our environmental progress for years. Unfinished business around the isthmus issue, decisions about the Capitol Lake/estuary options, updating our comprehensive plan, and county land use decisions will keep us all engaged and/or enraged for years to come. Let's elect a slate of strong leaders whose values reflect our deepest commitment to the protection of the Earth and who will work for the common good rather than self-interest.

Janine Gates is president of SPEECH and can be reached through her website at http://www.janinegatesphotography.com