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Washington Legislature Sends 100% Clean Electricity Bill To The Governor

Doug Nadvornick/SPR

The Washington Senate has approved a bill that its supporters call the 100% clean electricity bill.

The 29-to-20 vote on Monday includes changes made to the bill by the House of Representatives.

It would require utilities to eliminate coal from their electrical generating portfolios by 2025. It also sets 2045 as the deadline by which all of their generation must use non-carbon emitting and renewable resources.

The bill’s sponsor, Seattle Democratic Senator Reuven Carlyle, says it will allow the state to meet greenhouse gas emission reduction targets.

“I’m very proud of the partnership that we’ve built with our public utility districts, the partnership with our investor-owned utilities and our partnership with industry, our partnership with consumers. I think this is a strong piece of legislation that moves us forward and it does so in a respectful way for ratepayers and a respectful way that brings together the best of the public and the private sector,” Carlyle said.

The bill now goes to the governor’s desk.

A Sierra Club representative in Seattle calls the bill the “most significant 100%” legislation in the country.

Last week, Avista committed to providing only carbon-neutral electricity by 2017 and 100% clean electricity throughout its entire territory by 2045.