Washington’s Bad Green Gamble: Taxpayer Dollars on Decarbonization Without Decarbonization
Green Spending Spree: Decarbonization or Political Patronage?
In a new piece, the Washington Policy Center’s Todd Myers outlines how state agencies in our state are prioritizing taxpayer-funded “decarbonization” projects not based on environmental benefits or CO2 reduction, but on what they deem is in the best interest of the Department of Commerce. The Climate Commitment Act (CCA) has already collected over $2 billion through increased prices on energy sources like gasoline and diesel. But that may all change in the near future. In November, Washingtonians will decide whether to retain this tax.
As has become increasingly clear in our state, government spending doesn’t exactly translate to environmental gains. Instead, as Myers points out, projects funded under the CCA often prioritize political metrics like hiring requirements over actual CO2 reduction. For instance, grants intended for “community decarbonization” focus more on social equity and project readiness than on emissions reduction. The scoring system for these grants emphasizes factors like project team qualifications and readiness, with minimal points allocated directly to CO2 reductions.
Further, the Department of Commerce explicitly states it won’t compare projects based on CO2 reductions but rather on project type effectiveness. That reality underscores a lack of emphasis on measurable environmental outcomes. Adding to the many, many flaws of the CCA, the Department of Commerce also maintains discretion to prioritize projects based on what it perceives as beneficial for the state, rather than mandating environmental benefits as the primary measure of success.
Bottom-line: Myers emphasizes that, unlike privately funded initiatives, which face stringent accountability measures for delivering on promises, government-funded decarbonization efforts lack such accountability. If these projects fail to achieve environmental goals, neither the agencies nor the recipients are held accountable or required to reimburse funds. It’s all the more reason to get out and vote this November. Read more at the Washington Policy Center.
Political Spy Games: Bob Ferguson's Campaign Pays $5,000 for “April Research”
The Washington Observer has an interesting observation relating to Bob Ferguson’s latest campaign spending filing. The filing revealed a notable expense: $5,000 paid to Zach Wurtz for “April research.” Wurtz, known for his role as a Democrat tracker, has spent nearly two decades sneaking into GOP events and attempting to capture – what he thinks as –compromising audio or video of Republican opponents. Despite being barred from GOP events now, he manages a network of volunteers who, likely, provided intel to Ferguson’s campaign. We look forward to seeing what Wurtz and his associates captured in Ferguson’s upcoming ads. Read more at the Washington Observer.
Convicted Ex-Auditor Troy Kelley Seeks Legal Redemption at State Supreme Court
Remember Troy Kelley, the former Washington state auditor convicted of eight felonies? Well, he appeared before the state Supreme Court seeking to overturn his disbarment following his federal prison sentence. Kelley argued for reinstatement to inactive status, citing his suspension over the past six years as sufficient “time served” and expressing no intention to practice law again. He also cited his military service and previous public office as mitigating factors.
As for the Washington State Bar Association, they argued that disbarment was necessary to uphold legal profession integrity, especially for crimes of dishonesty. Shift WA readers will remember that Kelley’s legal troubles stemmed from charges related to his real estate business, leading to federal convictions in 2017. Despite his legal challenges, Kelley maintained his innocence and sought to clear his name following his release from prison in early 2022. Read more at the Washington State Standard.
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