The news out of Jay Inslee’s Department of Ecology today was the release of draft regulations to drive up the consumer cost of gasoline and electricity in Washington State. Of course, since Inslee is in charge of the bureaucracy, the agency described its actions as being focused on slowing climate change.
However, what was lacking in Ecology’s press release was any scientific reference to how much Washington State actually contributes to global carbon emissions, or how our state’s unilateral actions would stop the devastating impacts which Ecology spokespeople outlined in the release.
Why the lack of science behind Inslee’s actions? Perhaps because since Washington State contributes less than two-tenths of one percent to global emissions, including actual data would point out how useless Inslee’s proposed regulations are at actually impacting global warming.
The Seattle Times put a slightly different spin on the Ecology story, pointing out that “Officials say its Clean Air Rule would capture about 60 percent of the state’s overall carbon emissions, but it would not get the state all the way toward its mandate to limit emissions of greenhouse gases to the 1990 level.”
That’s right, right out of the gate the officials admit that their regulations will not even allow the state meet the phony goal included in legislation back in 2008 that Inslee often cites as his “mandate” for action. If that’s so, what’s the reason for harming the state’s economy?
Evidently, it’s a kumbaya moment for Ecology Director Maia Bellon: “I’m a big believer in partnerships and now is the time for industry and the environmental community to collaborate with us on the best approach.”
Even if that approach has no real impact. But it will make Inslee and his Ecology staff feel better about themselves.
And maybe it will allow Inslee to raise more money from Tom Steyer.
It will cost more to live in Wa. but will have no impact except on Voters pocket book , remember that voters.
Throw a rock into Puget Sound. How much effect does it have globally on the water level? That is about as much as Mr. Washington DC, spend like there is no tomorrow, announcement will have – NONE. As a Congressman he never learned the value of money or had good fiduciary responsibility towards the public’s money.
This is a backdoor tax on gasoline and natural gas users. Who’s going to pay for this rule…those of you who heat with natural gas and us country folks who have to drive to work each day.