To the surprise of no rational person, it turns out that Jay Inslee’s ambitious goal of transitioning its transportation sector from fossil fuels to electrification faces significant challenges due to the unreliability of public charging stations. As Shift WA leaders know, Inslee and his fellow Democrats mandated that by 2030, fossil fuel vehicle sales and registrations will be illegal, necessitating a widespread and reliable network of fast-charging ports. The state aims to have fast-charging stations every 50 miles along highways and 3 million total charging ports, but the plan is at risk because one in five public charging attempts currently fails, as per a Harvard-led study.

The study highlights the unreliability of public ports, which are less dependable than traditional gas stations, and the lack of charging infrastructure in certain areas. Not to be deterred by reality, the state plans to invest heavily in expanding its fast-charging network. And just so the maximum amount of taxpayers’ dollars are wasted, the draft proposal from the Washington State Department of Commerce warns that the failure rate of charging ports may require overbuilding the network. The proposal also emphasizes that improving the reliability and accessibility of public charging is crucial to ensuring public willingness to transition to electric vehicles. The Department of Commerce is seeking public input on this draft proposal, which will be finalized and submitted to the Governor’s Office by September 10. Read more at Center Square.

Democratic State Sen. Mark Mullet of Issaquah – known for his moderate stances – apparently does not know his party very well. In an interview about his loss in the gubernatorial primary, he told KTTH’s Jason Rantz: “It’s tough. I definitely am taking on the Democratic political establishment and, and I will be honest, I thought there (were) more moderate Democrats out there… I thought that I know in Olympia, we’re very few and far between, but it was a rough night.”

Mullet gained 6% of the vote – he also told Rantz that he does not regret his run for governor. He declined to endorse either Ferguson or Reichert. Read more at KTTH.com.

Our state is grappling with significant wildfires, burning over 265,000 acres so far this year, far surpassing the last two fire seasons. Despite lower overall ignitions, large fires continue to rage, particularly in hard-to-reach, heavily forested areas. Of course, as Shift WA has pointed out time and time again, the root of the problem lies in years of failed forest management by Democrats. Their incompetence has led to overgrown, fuel-rich forests that sustain these long-duration fires. As state officials now scramble to manage resources, including calling in the National Guard, the dire situation underscores the consequences of neglected forest care. While smoke looms, the ongoing mismanagement continues to leave our state with increasingly severe wildfire seasons. Read more at the Washington State Standard.

In the latest crazy antics of far-left Seattle activists, a group of them recently disrupted a City Council meeting to protest a proposal to house misdemeanor suspects in jail rather than leave them on the streets. The council was voting on using the South Correctional Entity (SCORE) jail, a move prompted by King County Executive Dow Constantine’s refusal to book misdemeanor suspects in the county jail. The activists, opposed to jailing suspects, argued that criminalizing low-level offenses perpetuates poverty and instability. Their disruptive behavior, which included chanting and forcing the council to hold the meeting online, ultimately failed to stop the proposal, which passed 8-1. Read more at KTTH.com.

Have you subscribed to the new Shift WA podcast yet? We’ve already released three full episodes, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive:

• David Olson talks about his bid for the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, including the role of OSPI, implications of I-2081, and his approaches to learning loss and school tech policies. He also addresses rising anti-Semitism in schools and the need for more apprenticeships.
• Jacquelin Maycumber outlines her campaign for the 5th congressional district, her reasons for running, and her views on Congress’s role. She covers national debt, entitlement reform, the border crisis, and offers insights on the Jones Act.

Subscribe now and don’t miss out on these critical discussions!

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