A fresh start, but only a beginning

Emissions cap, renewable power among next steps

President Obama has begun to chart a new course on energy and the environment. Yet, as he would readily acknowledge, the toughest obstacles lie ahead.

In January, Environment Washington’s federal staff, Margie Alt, Anna Aurilio and Ivan Frishberg, applauded the president in the East Room of the White House as he directed his administration to take steps that will help states, including Washington, put more hybrids and other fuel-efficient cars on our roads, reducing our carbon footprint and our dependence on oil.

In February, our federal staff were also in attendance as the president signed the economic recovery bill, including an $80 billion down payment on clean energy that will create 1.5 million green jobs nationwide, including thousands in Washington.

“We’re thrilled the president has acted so boldly and swiftly,” said John Rumpler, our senior environmental attorney. “Yet there’s a mountain of work left to do, and he’s going to need all the help he can get.”

The president has set a goal of 25 percent renewable electricity by 2025 and has proposed a cap on carbon pollution— both keys to unleashing the power of clean energy to transform our economy which we support. Despite the pro-environment majority in Congress, approval of either measure is far from assured—especially in the Senate, where special interests and the president’s adversaries need only 41 votes to snarl progress in endless debate and delay.

“That’s why we’re helping to organize support for clean energy across the state,” said Rumpler.

Meanwhile, we’re also working hard for energy-efficient building codes, protections for our natural treasures and action to preserve Puget Sound.

“We can’t repair overnight the damage done over eight years,” Rumpler said. “But we’re determined to push hard, move quickly and restore real protections to our air, water and land.”