House Bill 2346 is currently stuck in the Senate and not yet on the floor for a vote there. I’m writing to urge support for this bill that promotes clean energy.

HB 2346 contains important provisions to make the benefits of solar broadly accessible, and lowers barriers so that renters and lower-income households can participate in community solar projects. Expiration of sales tax exemption for solar energy equipment in the bill will bring revenue to local government and the state, creating a net positive to the state budget in the first biennium.

A study by Western Washington University found that the incentive program yields over $6 of payroll and over $15 of induced economic activity for every dollar that the state contributes. As the renewable energy incentives return significant benefits to the local economy, HB 2346 is critical to the development of jobs and community investment in Washington state.

Also, continued installation of renewable energy forms encouraged by this bill promotes the clean energy transformation that we need to slow climate change. The Senate EET Committee has added a “poison pill” rider to this bill that would greatly restrict the State’s ability to limit greenhouse gas pollution. We should demand that this “poison pill” be removed while urging Senate passage of the original bill passed in the House.

Folks should stand up to their state senators and speak out in favor of HB 2346. Folks in Sen. Andy Hill’s 45th Legislative District should ask him to move HB 2346 out of the Ways and Means Committee and onto the Senate floor for a vote.

Court Olson

Bellevue