Kent Chamber of Commerce weighs in on carbon emissions discussion

A recent guest column in The Seattle Times declared that if Washington’s elected officials don’t tackle the issue of reducing carbon dioxide emissions, then the people will.

We would encourage its authors to spend some time speaking with “the people,” most of whom have been actively engaged in successfully reducing carbon emissions for nearly two decades.

The innovative approach by Washington citizens, employers, employees, farmers and government is a model for collaboration and climate leadership, and it has established a clear and downward trend in Washington’s carbon footprint. The alternative to this proven path offered by the authors of the Aug. 11 column is a complex, top-down government approach intended to drive up the price of gas and home energy for families.

There’s a reason legislators didn’t embrace this approach during the 2015 legislative session: they were listening to the people.

Washingtonians value the environment; it’s a major reason why we choose to live here, and we’re motivated to protect it. So, reducing carbon emissions has been a priority for government, employers and everyday citizens long before the current efforts.

Employers, partnered with their employees, have significantly reduced their energy use and carbon emissions through energy efficiency and new technology; commuters have chosen transit options, carpooled, and purchased low- or zero-emission vehicles. Because of our abundant hydropower, our electricity generation emits nearly the lowest amount of carbon dioxide in the country. All of these initiatives have given Washington the eighth cleanest state economy in the country, when measured by carbon emissions.

All of these proactive, individual steps are producing impressive results. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s most recent data, Washington’s carbon emissions are now below 1990 levels. Our industrial sector alone has reduced its carbon emissions by 21 percent below 1990 levels.

We’ve seen this happen up close. In October 2008, food processors from around the region agreed to voluntarily reduce energy intensity in their products by 25 percent over 10 years and 50 percent over 20 years. They are well on their way to achieving their initial benchmark. But, it’s not just food processing. The leadership shown in every sector has been inspiring – from new buildings with LEED certifications to commercial vehicles converting to low-carbon fuels. Those who say Washington businesses have an opportunity to lead in reducing carbon emissions have not been paying attention – they’re already leading.

The alternative policy framework being promoted by some in Washington would mirror Gov. Jay Inslee’s cap-and-trade tax proposal that failed to get any support in the Legislature. Why? Because it would raise the cost of energy for everybody and drive jobs out of the state. The governor’s own economists confirmed that his plan will increase the price of a gallon of gas by as much as 41 cents above projections over time and labeled it “regressive[1]” because of its disproportionate impact on low- and fixed-income households.

The governor’s economists also estimate it will raise the price of natural gas by 16 percent above projections. This has a direct impact on manufacturing. An independent analysis of the plan concluded that, if it were implemented, Washington would have an average of 56,000 fewer jobs each year than under current projections. How do we advance our shared goal of reducing global carbon emissions by driving employers from low-carbon Washington into high-carbon jurisdictions like China or Texas that seemingly don’t care about their carbon footprint?

We support the governor’s goal of reducing carbon emissions, but we differ on the solution. Thanks to the leadership of Washington families, employers, farmers and government, we’re making great progress through collaborative policies that invite each of us to act on our environmental values. Replacing this success with a blunt, government-run system designed to increase the price of gas and energy does not encourage leadership; it simply demands submission.

Andrea Keikkala is the CEO of the Kent Chamber of Commerce.

Gary Ash is the general manager of National Frozen Foods Corporation, a food processing company based in Washington with plants in Moses Lake, Quincy and Chehalis.

Vicky Baxter is the CEO of the Renton Chamber of Commerce.