Finnish President Sauli Niinistö pays historic visit to Washington state

In the first-ever address by a foreign head of state to the Washington State Legislature, Finnish President Sauli Niinistö paid a grand compliment to the state’s leadership on climate.

“In the global fight against climate change, Finland and Washington are forerunners,” said Niinistö. “The way I see it, sustainability should not be seen as a sacrifice but as an opportunity.”

Niinistö began a five-day tour of the United States with his stop in Olympia, where the president addressed the Legislature, held a bilateral meeting with Gov. Jay Inslee, and held a joint press conference with the governor.

During his address and media availability, Niinistö spoke to his nation’s bid to join NATO, efforts to achieve carbon neutrality by 2035, and Finnish partnerships with Washington state. Finland and Washington state signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2021 to advance telecommunications, seaport modernization, and sustainable industry.

Finland shares a long border with Russia and has repelled Russian invasion several times in its history. Once Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war began in Ukraine, popular support to join NATO grew, and Finland and Sweden have since bid to join NATO. Both nations await the approval of Turkey and Hungary before they may join the alliance. President Joe Biden expressed his support for Finland’s and Sweden’s accession on Thursday.

“If an autocratic system can win somewhere, it never stops. After one win, it might be another win,” said Niinistö. “And we have to keep in mind that a household here is not that far away actually, from a household in Finland or a household in Ukraine. The world is getting all the time smaller and smaller, and we are more and more dependent on what happens elsewhere. If not exactly in our neighborhood, but nevertheless, it has an impact on us.”

Washington’s debut cap-and-trade auction sees strong demand, high return

The 2021 Climate Commitment Act established Washington’s newly-launched “cap-and-invest” program to reduce carbon pollution and achieve state climate goals. It limits the amount of carbon pollution that can be emitted by certain industries. Businesses within those industries must either reduce their emissions by investing in cleaner technologies or processes, or they can purchase emissions allowances at a quarterly auction.

On Tuesday, March 7, the state Department of Ecology announced the results of the very first auction held last month. Demand was high - in just three hours of bidding, all 6.18 million available allowances sold at a price of $48.50 each. That price was in the range projected by an independent analysis in 2022 commissioned by Ecology. Once all transactions are final, the total amount of proceeds will be detailed in a separate report to be issued on March 28.

“This is truly historic for Washington and for the global movement toward a low-carbon future," said Gov. Jay Inslee. "The costs of climate change are coming to bear on families and communities, and industry plays an important role in the transition away from carbon. This cap-and-invest system is crucial to our approach to addressing climate change, and we are very encouraged to see this program starting off so well."

Washington is the second state in the country to implement a cap-and-invest policy. It was designed to one day link with California’s and Quebec’s cap-and-invest programs. Proceeds from the auction will be used to fund things that further reduce emissions such as building more public EV charging stations, helping families purchase heat pumps, and streamlining siting for clean energy projects.

The program is already allowing state ferries and transit agencies across the state to provide free transit to all youth under 18. The policy includes specific provisions that ensure frontline, overburdened communities and Tribes benefit from the investments. The governor’s climate budget proposal released in December assumed the program would generate about $1.7 billion in 2023-2025.

"With the cap-and-invest program now fully underway, we can begin providing critical support for reducing emissions in our state, and helping communities deal with and prepare for the effects of climate change," said Laura Watson, Ecology’s director. “This sends a powerful message to the nation and world that bold action on climate change is both necessary and achievable."

To end gun violence, build on what works

In 2016, a teenager, jealous and angry after a breakup, walked into a house party in Mukilteo and killed three of his peers. In 2012, a 3-year-old boy in Tacoma found his father’s gun and accidentally shot himself in the head. In January, a man walked into a convenience store in Yakima, shot and killed three people he had never met, and then turned his gun on himself.

Washington state has responded decisively to gun violence, lately passing a slew of commonsense reforms influenced by a public health approach. Broad measures like magazine capacity restrictions and enhanced background checks will save lives, but so will tailored interventions inspired by data.

Convictions for domestic violence and harassment now disqualify someone from legal gun ownership, reducing intimate partner violence. Safe storage requirements may reduce accidental discharges, a leading cause of death of children.

As gun death soars nationwide, Washington state has held its rate to just a fraction of the federal figure. That’s because Washington has built on what works.

Read the full story on Gov. Jay Inslee's Medium here.

Failing to plan for climate change is planning to fail

To achieve Washington state’s ambitious climate goals, leadership from local governments will be critical. New legislation requested by Gov. Jay Inslee passed the House floor last Friday that would require local governments to plan for climate change.

Cities like Lakewood and Langley are already modeling proactive climate action at the local level. Lakewood has enhanced its tree preservation code, developed an emissions-reduction plan, and has reevaluated its floodplain mapping. Langley has expanded middle housing while preserving its historic charm.

This new bill would urge Washington cities to adopt efforts like these in their own jurisdictions to reduce emissions, reduce vehicle miles, and to relieve communities and neighborhoods overburdened by pollution.

“As policy-makers, we know the decisions we make today will have a lasting impact on the future of our city,” said Lakewood Mayor Jason Whalen.

Read the full story on Gov. Jay Inslee's Medium here.

Legislative session – week 9 in review

Wednesday was the last day this legislative session for most bills to pass their house of origin.

“I’m pleased with our progress as we hit this milestone in the 2023 legislative session, including efforts to address housing and homelessness with historic investments," said Gov. Jay Inslee in a statement following the cutoff. "I want to applaud legislators for advancing commonsense gun reform, planning for climate change impacts, supports for behavioral health, and more funding for special education. The Legislature is also making progress to address state workforce challenges."

Ten of the 14 policy bills requested by the governor were passed out of their house of origin prior to the cutoff. They include legislation to hold the gun industry accountable for when their products fall into the wrong hands; accelerate our transition to more renewable energy and provide more tools to fight climate change’s impacts; support transit-oriented housing developments; and provide timely competency evaluations and restoration services to persons suffering from behavioral health disorders.

The governor also said he remains optimistic that the Legislature will pass a budget that includes funding for riparian habitat restoration programs for salmon. While it was disappointing that the Legislature did not act on a constitutional amendment to protect the right to abortion in Washington state, Inslee said he was encouraged by legislators’ progress on other measures to strengthen protections for reproductive health care data and gender-affirming care, including legal protections for patients and providers as well as removing cost barriers for patients.

April 23 is the last day allowed for the regular session under the state constitution.

News you might have missed:

Biden’s budget enhances nuclear waste cleanup, Superfund investments

President Joe Biden released his FY24 budget proposal on Thursday. The budget would reform the tax code, reduce the deficit, trim exemptions for special interests, preserve Social Security and Medicare, and more. The president’s budget also enhanced investments into environmental cleanups. The budget would increase funding to address former nuclear weapons production sites, including the Hanford Site, by $1 billion. The budget would also enhance funding for cleanups at Superfund sites – there are 69 such sites in Washington state.

Prior presidential administrations had serially trimmed funding for the cleanup at Hanford. The Biden Administration has bucked that trend, enhancing funding in FY23 and proposing to do so again in FY24. Gov. Jay Inslee expressed optimism over renewed federal commitment last year, and the president’s FY24 budget is additional evidence of a new direction.

Biden seeks to boost American manufacturing, slash emissions

The White House Wednesday announced new Industrial Decarbonization Grants and a Federal-State Buy Clean Partnership to promote a cleaner industrial sector. The grants and the partnership will enhance demand for American products made through sustainable practices and materials.

"I welcome today’s White House announcements that will accelerate our efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support American manufacturing at the same time,” said Gov. Jay Inslee. “As a member of the Federal-State Buy Clean Partnership, we’re ready to work together with Washington industry to pursue federal incentives from the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for reducing emissions from industry and manufacturing as we transition to a cleaner future.”

Grant portal opens next week for hospitality and lodging businesses

Restaurants, bars, food trucks, caterers, distilleries and breweries, hotels, and many other hospitality establishments may benefit from a new $100 million round of grants to open Tuesday, March 14. The state Department of Commerce is issuing the grants to help businesses still recovering from the pandemic. An informational webinar is scheduled for Monday, March 13.

“While some of our small businesses are starting to recover and rebuild in the wake of a global pandemic, more continue to face historic challenges,” said Chris Green, Assistant Director of Commerce’s Office of Economic Development and Competitiveness. “The hospitality and lodging industry is an essential part of our economy and these grants will help affected businesses across the state.”

To end gun violence, build on what works

In 2016, a teenager, jealous and angry after a breakup, walked into a house party in Mukilteo and killed three of his peers. In 2012, a 3-year-old boy in Tacoma found his father’s gun and accidentally shot himself in the head. In January, a man walked into a convenience store in Yakima, shot and killed three people he had never met, and then turned his gun on himself.

Washington state has responded decisively to gun violence, lately passing a slew of commonsense reforms influenced by a public health approach. Broad measures like magazine capacity restrictions and enhanced background checks will save lives, but so will tailored interventions inspired by data.

Convictions for domestic violence and harassment now disqualify someone from legal gun ownership, reducing intimate partner violence. Safe storage requirements may reduce accidental discharges, a leading cause of death of children.

As gun death soars nationwide, Washington state has held its rate to just a fraction of the federal figure. That’s because Washington has built on what works.

Read the full story on Gov. Jay Inslee's Medium here.

Failing to plan for climate change is planning to fail

To achieve Washington state’s ambitious climate goals, leadership from local governments will be critical. New legislation requested by Gov. Jay Inslee passed the House floor last Friday that would require local governments to plan for climate change.

Cities like Lakewood and Langley are already modeling proactive climate action at the local level. Lakewood has enhanced its tree preservation code, developed an emissions-reduction plan, and has reevaluated its floodplain mapping. Langley has expanded middle housing while preserving its historic charm.

This new bill would urge Washington cities to adopt efforts like these in their own jurisdictions to reduce emissions, reduce vehicle miles, and to relieve communities and neighborhoods overburdened by pollution.

“As policy-makers, we know the decisions we make today will have a lasting impact on the future of our city,” said Lakewood Mayor Jason Whalen.

Read the full story on Gov. Jay Inslee's Medium here.

Legislative session – week 9 in review

Wednesday was the last day this legislative session for most bills to pass their house of origin.

“I’m pleased with our progress as we hit this milestone in the 2023 legislative session, including efforts to address housing and homelessness with historic investments," said Gov. Jay Inslee in a statement following the cutoff. "I want to applaud legislators for advancing commonsense gun reform, planning for climate change impacts, supports for behavioral health, and more funding for special education. The Legislature is also making progress to address state workforce challenges."

Ten of the 14 policy bills requested by the governor were passed out of their house of origin prior to the cutoff. They include legislation to hold the gun industry accountable for when their products fall into the wrong hands; accelerate our transition to more renewable energy and provide more tools to fight climate change’s impacts; support transit-oriented housing developments; and provide timely competency evaluations and restoration services to persons suffering from behavioral health disorders.

The governor also said he remains optimistic that the Legislature will pass a budget that includes funding for riparian habitat restoration programs for salmon. While it was disappointing that the Legislature did not act on a constitutional amendment to protect the right to abortion in Washington state, Inslee said he was encouraged by legislators’ progress on other measures to strengthen protections for reproductive health care data and gender-affirming care, including legal protections for patients and providers as well as removing cost barriers for patients.

April 23 is the last day allowed for the regular session under the state constitution.

News you might have missed:

Biden’s budget enhances nuclear waste cleanup, Superfund investments

President Joe Biden released his FY24 budget proposal on Thursday. The budget would reform the tax code, reduce the deficit, trim exemptions for special interests, preserve Social Security and Medicare, and more. The president’s budget also enhanced investments into environmental cleanups. The budget would increase funding to address former nuclear weapons production sites, including the Hanford Site, by $1 billion. The budget would also enhance funding for cleanups at Superfund sites – there are 69 such sites in Washington state.

Prior presidential administrations had serially trimmed funding for the cleanup at Hanford. The Biden Administration has bucked that trend, enhancing funding in FY23 and proposing to do so again in FY24. Gov. Jay Inslee expressed optimism over renewed federal commitment last year, and the president’s FY24 budget is additional evidence of a new direction.

Biden seeks to boost American manufacturing, slash emissions

The White House Wednesday announced new Industrial Decarbonization Grants and a Federal-State Buy Clean Partnership to promote a cleaner industrial sector. The grants and the partnership will enhance demand for American products made through sustainable practices and materials.

"I welcome today’s White House announcements that will accelerate our efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support American manufacturing at the same time,” said Gov. Jay Inslee. “As a member of the Federal-State Buy Clean Partnership, we’re ready to work together with Washington industry to pursue federal incentives from the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for reducing emissions from industry and manufacturing as we transition to a cleaner future.”

Grant portal opens next week for hospitality and lodging businesses

Restaurants, bars, food trucks, caterers, distilleries and breweries, hotels, and many other hospitality establishments may benefit from a new $100 million round of grants to open Tuesday, March 14. The state Department of Commerce is issuing the grants to help businesses still recovering from the pandemic. An informational webinar is scheduled for Monday, March 13.

“While some of our small businesses are starting to recover and rebuild in the wake of a global pandemic, more continue to face historic challenges,” said Chris Green, Assistant Director of Commerce’s Office of Economic Development and Competitiveness. “The hospitality and lodging industry is an essential part of our economy and these grants will help affected businesses across the state.”