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UPDATE: On March 1, 2019, the Washington State Senate voted on legislation to establish a 100 percent clean energy standard (SB5116), which passed by a 28 to 19 margin. The Washington State House is expected to vote on the legislation later this month.

OLYMPIA, Wash. (February 22, 2019) —&�Բ�����;Today, a bill to establish a 100 percent clean electricity standard in Washington state moved out of the House Finance Committee, clearing a final hurdle before a potentially historic floor vote. This followed closely on the heels of a companion bill passing out of its final Senate committee earlier in the week. In response, Gail Gatton, executive director of , issued the following statement:

“����APP's support for 100 percent clean electricity builds on our commitment to protect birds and people from ����APP change. Reducing carbon pollution by switching to clean energy sources is technically possible, economically viable, and a key driver for new jobs and economic growth. after show the move to clean energy is overwhelmingly by Washingtonians and is, simply put, the right thing to do. With a floor vote anticipated in the coming weeks, we expect our elected officials will take the necessary action now to keep our birds, residents, and communities healthy and safe from a changing ����APP.”

and would:

• Phase out of coal from our electricity grid by 2025, accelerating the closure of coal plants in Montana and Wyoming that are among the largest sources of ����APP pollution in the American West;
• Put in place interim emission reduction targets starting in 2030 that would prevent unnecessary and costly near-term build out of new fracked gas infrastructure in our electric grid -- ensuring an orderly transition to clean electricity;
• Require investment in low-income communities to address historic energy inequities and inclusion of equity in the planning and acquisition of clean energy;
• Increase investments in clean, renewable energy and energy efficiency, adding more jobs to the state’s clean energy industries that already .
• Commit to powering Washington State’s entire electric grid with 100% clean energy by 2045.

In 2014, ����APP released its , which showed more than half of the bird species in North America at risk of disappearing by 2080 due to shifting and shrinking ranges due to ����APP change. Included in the list of 314 were many found in Washington State, including the Bald Eagle, Mallard, and Anna’s Hummingbird.

About ����APP

The ����APP protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow, throughout the Americas using science, advocacy, education and on-the-ground conservation. ����APP’s state programs, nature centers, chapters and partners have an unparalleled wingspan that reaches millions of people each year to inform, inspire and unite diverse communities in conservation action. Since 1905, ����APP’s vision has been a world in which people and wildlife thrive. ����APP is a nonprofit conservation organization. Learn more at and @audubonsociety.

About ����APP Washington

Established in 1981, ����APP Washington works statewide with its 25 independent chapters and 35,000 members on the conservation of the  in Eastern Washington, , and , the number one threat to birds today. Through the , it provides science, nature and environmental education programs for youth and families. Learn more at , @audubonWA.

Media Contacts

For ����APP: Nicolas Gonzalez, 212-979-3068, ngonzalez@audubon.org

For ����APP Washington: Samara Villasenor, 425-255-0890, samara@greatworkcommunications.com

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