Scout Clean Energy, backed by a trillion-dollar Canadian investment firm, is pressuring Jay Inslee to override the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC) and remove restrictions on their massive Horse Heaven wind and solar project. Despite not having the authority to alter EFSEC’s recommendations, Inslee’s allies are pushing him to bulldoze environmental and cultural protections to meet so-called climate goals. As the Capital Press reports, Scout Clean Energy CEO Michael Rucker said “Inslee ‘can — and must’ use his ‘plenary authority’ to override EFSEC and loosen the restrictions to ensure ‘the state’s climate goals are met.’”

The project, opposed by local citizens and the Yakama Nation, would disrupt sacred lands and wildlife habitats. Yet, Scout argues these concerns are merely “vague” obstacles. Meanwhile, Inslee seems keen to please his benefactors by dismissing EFSEC’s years-long review process, all in the name of green energy profits. It’s just another “emergency action” that Inslee’s campaign donors want him to take, to line their pockets while Jay continues to search for a non-government job for the first time this century. Read more at Capital Press.

As Shift WA readers know, Seattle Public Schools (SPS) is on the verge of closing 20 elementary schools due to a sharp decline in enrollment and a resulting $100 million budget deficit. And, as KTTH’s Jason Rantz recently pointed out, this crisis didn’t just happen—it’s the product of a series of political decisions that prioritized ideology over education. The district blames COVID-19 for the enrollment drop, but the doesn’t begin to explain what happened. The reality is that the Seattle Education Association used the pandemic to push for more funds, keeping schools closed longer than necessary, despite the minimal risk to children.

Meanwhile, SPS replaced traditional education with a focus on “wokeness,” pushing political agendas that alienated many families, particularly Asian and white students, who then left the district in significant numbers. The district also neglected serious safety concerns, such as homeless encampments on school grounds, further driving parents to pull their kids from SPS. Now, with trust eroded and enrollment plummeting, SPS is left to deal with the consequences of its choices. Unfortunately, it’s the students that bear the brunt of the damage. Read more at KTTH.

The City of Snohomish has decided to hike the cost of building Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) by mandating separate sewer and water connections, adding an extra $20,000 to $40,000 to construction costs. This decision follows the 2023 passage of yet another short-sighted Democrat scheme: House Bill 1337 (HB 1337). The bill encourages cities to support ADU development as a means of providing affordable housing. Despite recommendations from the City Planning Commission and the Washington Department of Commerce against imposing these additional fees, the Democrat-led Snohomish City Council chose to require the costly separate utility connections.

The move undermines the affordability of ADUs, which are intended to be low-cost housing options. It also contradicts efforts to reduce housing costs. As the Washington Policy Center points out, the city’s decision follows a past controversy where homeowners were unfairly burdened with sewer fee liens due to the city’s mismanagement. In the end, by making ADUs more expensive, Snohomish just made affordable housing even more difficult to come by. Read more at the Washington Policy Center.

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

• Judge Dave Larson joins the podcast to discuss his run for the Washington State Supreme Court, his journey into law, and the realities of judicial elections. He also touches on bias in the judiciary, legal news on ballot initiatives, and whether legal shows get it right. Finally, he shares ideas for improving the justice system.
• The hosts break down the results of the Washington state primary election. Why are people reflexively voting for Cantwell? What did we learn in the 3rd, 4th, and 5th congressional races? They touch on all those federal questions and pontificate about the major state races including OSPI, commissioner of public lands, and that other one.
• 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.

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

Please consider making a contribution to ensure Shift continues to provide daily updates on the shenanigans of the liberal establishment. If you’d rather mail a check, you can send it to: Shift WA | PO Box 956 | Cle Elum, WA 98922

Forward this to a friend.  It helps us grow our community and serve you better.

You can also follow SHIFTWA on social media by liking us on Facebook and following us on Twitter.

If you feel we missed something that should be covered, email us at [email protected].