Global Warming Solutions News

For Immediate Release: November 12, 2009

Contact: Cara Dolan, Environment Washington, CDolan@environmentwashington.org, office: (206) 568-2850 x 2008, cell: (631) 241-0483

New Report: Pollution Up 15 % in Washington since 1990

Seattle, WA—Washington’s global warming pollution increased by 15 percent since 1990, according to a new analysis of government data released today by Environment Washington.

“More pollution than ever before is not a record we want to set,” said Cara Dolan of Environment Washington.  “It’s time to take back control of our energy future.  By harnessing the power of the wind and the sun, we can cut pollution and transition to clean energy sources that don’t harm the environment, never run out, and create new, local jobs,” she continued.

For decades, America’s use of fossil fuels – and the global warming pollution that results – has been on the rise nationally and in states across the country.  For Washington, global warming means a lot of things, but the impact that is among the most concerning is the rising of sea levels that will inundate our coasts, affecting 40 communities, and the vulnerability of our snow-fed water supplies.   The science shows that the United States must cut its global warming pollution by 35 percent by 2020 to be able to stop the worst effects of global warming.

Too Much Pollution uses the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Energy on fossil fuel consumption by state to look at trends in carbon dioxide emissions.  The key findings include the following:

• Washington’s carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel consumption increased by 15 percent between 1990 and 2007. 

• In Washington, transportation was the largest source of carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel consumption- responsible for 57% percent of the state’s emissions in 2007.  The state remains heavily wedded to automobiles for its transportation. However, Washington state reduced its per capita emissions from gasoline use by 11 percent from 1990-2007, which slowed the increase in emissions from the transportation sector, as a result of strong and consistent public policies to promote public transit and other alternatives to driving as well as patterns of development that reduce dependence on cars.  Transportation remains responsible for over half of our states emissions because emissions from diesel, primarily used for hauling freight, more than doubled from 1990 to 2007.

• Nationally, emissions of carbon dioxide from fossil fuel consumption increased by 19 percent between 1990 and 2007.  Power plants and vehicles, the largest sources of carbon dioxide emissions in the United States, were responsible for the lion’s share of the increase. 

In contrast to the trend in Washington, more than one-third of the states succeeded in cutting pollution from 2004 to 2007 – before the onset of the economic recession.  The initial success of these states shows that moving to clean energy can have a significant and immediate impact on overall emissions – and that emission reductions and robust economic growth can occur side by side.  For instance, four Northeast states – Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, and New York – cut their pollution levels by 5 percent since 1997, while increasing their gross state product by 65 percent.

“Investment in clean energy creates more than 3 times as many jobs as the same investment in fossil fuels,” said Dr. Gareth Green, Professor of Economics at Seattle University.  “Further, Washington already has a strong clean energy economy: it ranks 9^th in the nation for clean energy business, 14^th for clean energy jobs and 4^th for attracting venture capital investment” he continued.

“We can drive the economy without driving up pollution.  By moving to clean energy, we can cut pollution, help jump-start the economy, and create millions of new clean energy jobs across the country,” said Cara Dolan, Environment Washington.

The report recommends that the federal government build on the initial progress made by some states by passing strong clean energy legislation and adopting common sense EPA rules to cut pollution from aging coal plants and big smokestack industries.  The Senate is in the process of considering the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act (S. 1733), sponsored by Senators John Kerry and Barbara Boxer.  In addition, EPA has proposed a rule to require coal plants and other large smokestack industries to use available technology to cut their global warming pollution when new facilities are constructed or existing facilities are significantly modified.

Unfortunately, Dirty Coal, Big Oil, and other polluters are fighting the transition to clean energy.  The American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity, a coal industry lobby group, spent at least $45 million dollars last year alone – more than $120,000 a day – on lobbyists and advertising on energy.  Earlier this year, they hired lobbyists who forged phony constituent letters to Congress opposing action on clean energy.  “The coal industry has proven themselves willing to do or say virtually anything to block progress,” said Cara Dolan.

“West Seattle Natural Energy is growing, and is part of the clean, renewable energy industry that is trained and ready to move forward in Washington state,” said Ryan Hughes, Vice President of West Seattle Natural Energy.  “We are asking for a national clean energy policy that recognizes that we can reduce our reliance on fossil fuel by increasing our use of solar and wind energy” he continued.

 “We urge Senators Murray and Cantwell to vote for this critical bill to cut pollution and create clean energy jobs.  We urge EPA to finalize its rule to cut global warming pollution from coal plants,” said Cara Dolan.

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Environment Washington is a state-based, citizen-funded environmental organization working for clean air, clean water, and open space.

Too-Much-Pollution-WA.pdf