Nearly 200 people signed up to testify today before an Environmental Protection Agency panel about the negative effects of greenhouse gases. Governor Gregoire, Sen. Phil Rockefeller and Rep. Dave Upthegrove were the first three to testify this morning at the Bell Harbor Conference Center in Seattle. The EPA plans to list greenhouse gases as a dangerous pollutant which poses a threat to public health and welfare. The agency is conducting two public hearings in the country on the issue, with Seattle being the second of the two.
Rep. Upthegrove began his three-minute remarks by saying, “I enthusiastically support the EPA’s findings.”
Rep. Upthegrove began his three-minute remarks by saying, “I enthusiastically support the EPA’s findings.”
As chairman of the House Ecology and Parks Committee, Upthegrove pushed for legislation to curb greenhouse gas emissions in Washington state and was the prime sponsor of the governor’s Cap and Trade bill in the House this year.
The bill ultimately did not pass the Legislature, being one of several to fall just short on Sine Die. But Governor Gregoire announced an executive order to reduce emissions shortly after this morning’s testimony. The executive order resembles what was in Senate Bill 5735 - the bill that didn’t make it through the Legislature this session. It also has some new ideas, including directing the Department of Ecology to develop industry-specific emissions benchmarks.
Upthegrove praised the governor’s continued efforts to deal with climate change.
“There is not a shadow of a doubt that greenhouse gases threaten public health and welfare,” he said. “I applaud the governor for doing the right thing today for Washington’s families, businesses, and communities.”
The bill ultimately did not pass the Legislature, being one of several to fall just short on Sine Die. But Governor Gregoire announced an executive order to reduce emissions shortly after this morning’s testimony. The executive order resembles what was in Senate Bill 5735 - the bill that didn’t make it through the Legislature this session. It also has some new ideas, including directing the Department of Ecology to develop industry-specific emissions benchmarks.
Upthegrove praised the governor’s continued efforts to deal with climate change.
“There is not a shadow of a doubt that greenhouse gases threaten public health and welfare,” he said. “I applaud the governor for doing the right thing today for Washington’s families, businesses, and communities.”
