By Bobby Righi | For the Retiree Advocate newsletter Bobby Righi Here we are at the beginning of a new year and a new administration. We are hopeful and breathing a big sigh of relief, but looking over our shoulders for what new monster might be appearing out of the murk of white supremacy, rampant …
One more chance for WA’s “Green Wave”
...with inaction at the federal level, maybe a single state paving the way is our best hope for catalyzing broader action. Someone needs to lead. With lessons learned from this most recent failure, and more Democratic seats picked up in the state legislature — offering a firmer legislative route to passing a carbon tax — Inslee …
OCA endorses I-1631; time to gather signatures!
State initiative would put a fee on carbon and devote the proceeds to clean energy and climate protection At its April 2018 monthly meeting, Olympic Climate Action (OCA) agreed by consensus to endorse I-1631, the Protect Washington Act initiative. OCA joins Sierra Club, The Nature Conservancy, Washington Audubon, a coalition of Native American tribes and …
Continue reading "OCA endorses I-1631; time to gather signatures!"
Climate/Energy bills in the State Leg
OCA's Executive Committee just sent these messages to our 24th District state legislators; we suggest you contact them as well, on this and other issues still pending in the Legislature: Rep. Mike Chapman: mike.chapman@leg.wa.gov 360-786-7916 Rep. Steve Tharinger: steve.tharinger@leg.wa.gov 360-786-7904 Sen. Kevin Van de Wege: kevin.vandewege@leg.wa.gov 360-786-7646 3SHB 1144: OCA commends the State House for passing this bill which would revise the current state-mandated …
Legislators: enact a strong carbon tax
At our general membership meeting of 2/4/18, we agreed to send this letter to our state legislators urging action on a strong carbon tax. The time is now, and there is no time for half-measures or excuses. We urge individuals to write their own letters on this issue--your representatives need to hear from you! Letter …
Nature Conservancy considering carbon tax proposal for Washington State
"We've made a major financial commitment to do all the work that needs to be done," she added, including gathering about 350,000 signatures to ensure the needed valid signatures. http://www.thestate.com/news/business/national-business/article155921079.html
Legislators: Put a price on carbon now
By unanimous agreement at our meeting of 5/7/2017, we have sent this letter to our state legislators: Senator Kevin Van de Wege Representative Steve Tharinger Representative Mike Chapman Washington State Legislature Dear State Legislative representatives from District 24: Olympic Climate Action maintains a membership of more than 600 members from the Olympic Peninsula through email …
“Occupy” endorses I-732
Occupy.com has posted a story about “6 ballot initiatives to watch in 2016.” Author Matt Stannard calls I-732 “absolutely the most important initiative in the country.” From the story: “At the top of the list is the first and only carbon tax and rebate initiative in the United States, an idea championed by a variety of …
I-732 will benefit Clallam County $$$
In a presentation to the Dungeness River Management Team, CarbonWA executive board member Mike Massa made the case for the I-732 revenue-neutral carbon tax and refuted the statements that the Clallam County PUD had made opposing the initiative at a previous DRMT meeting. Here are his slides in Powerpoint and PDF format. Note the projected economic impacts: …
Raves for I-732 and putting a fair price on carbon
"If there was one thing I would like to see, it would be for us to be able to price the cost of carbon emissions." * That's President Obama responding to a question from Thomas Friedman about the single most important thing we can do to solve climate change, from a forthcoming episode in the new …
Continue reading "Raves for I-732 and putting a fair price on carbon"
LOCAL I-732 events today!
Help bring a carbon tax to WA! At 2:45 today at the Dungeness River Audubon Center, Mike Massa of the CarbonWA executive board will give a presentation on I-732 to the Dungeness River Management Team, refuting the misleading statements made by the Clallam County PUD in opposition to the initiative. A public comment period will …
PUD Commissioners: fulfill your mission and support I-732
"We are disappointed that the Clallam County PUD Board of Commissioners voted against supporting Initiative 732, a measure designed to accelerate the switch to affordable clean energy." In a guest opinion piece in the Sequim Gazette, OCA members collaborated on a response and appeal to the Clallam County Public Utility District Commissioners to rescind their …
Continue reading "PUD Commissioners: fulfill your mission and support I-732"
OCA responds to PUD misstatements about I-732
On May 9, members of OCA presented this statement to Clallam County PUD commissioners regarding their ill-considered opposition to I-732, the state carbon-tax initiative that will be on the ballot in November. In spite of substantive refutations from OCA, OCA members, and a representative from the I-732 campaign, pointing out that I-732 will have very little economic …
Continue reading "OCA responds to PUD misstatements about I-732"
OCA sponsoring events in support of I-732
Promoting the CarbonWA carbon-tax initiative to bring clean energy to WA OCA is sponsoring several events centered around the effort to enact a revenue-neutral tax swap which will tax "bads" (fossil fuels) instead of "goods" (sales, business activities, and working families): July 30, 1:05 PM: KONP Radio 1450's (and FM 101.7) Todd Ortloff will interview Yoram …
Continue reading "OCA sponsoring events in support of I-732"
Support CarbonWA and WAmend initiatives for a healthy future
In spite of Governor Inslee's attempt to pass a carbon cap-and-trade bill to limit carbon pollution and help fund our underfunded education system, it has become clear that no significant carbon-reduction legislation will be passed in this session of the Legislature, where even the Democratic-controlled State House will not put cap-and-trade on the floor. Once …
Continue reading "Support CarbonWA and WAmend initiatives for a healthy future"
Join the CarbonWA initiative signature drive
The goal is 300,000 signatures by December--can you help? Our friends at CarbonWA have eloquently made the case for a revenue-neutral carbon tax that would be offset by reductions in the Sales Tax and Business & Occupations Tax, along with a tax credit for the working poor. Led by Ph.D. economist Yoram Bauman and advised by …
Continue reading "Join the CarbonWA initiative signature drive"
OCA endorses CarbonWA’s revenue-neutral carbon tax proposal
The recent election did not prove favorable to climate action in the Washington State Legislature. It is time for the people to bring the issue forward and do what our gridlocked legislative bodies won't do on their own. It is time for our state (and governments around the world) to turn the engines of capitalism in …
Continue reading "OCA endorses CarbonWA’s revenue-neutral carbon tax proposal"
OCA writes Clallam PUD objecting to their opposition to a carbon tax
Here is the letter that OCA wrote to the Clallam County Public Utility District (PUD) objecting to their letter to the Energy Northwest power suppliers' consortium opposing the idea of a carbon tax. This PUD position was taken without public input, and the letter was sent without public notice. It is a great disservice to …
Continue reading "OCA writes Clallam PUD objecting to their opposition to a carbon tax"
Why we need a carbon tax now
OCA is affiliated with the Citizens' Climate Lobby, a national organization lobbying for national carbon fee-and-dividend legislation. Here is an editorial from the Wenatchee World written by two fellow CCL members: Carbon tax commentary. OCA is communicating with U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer to urge him to co-sponsor carbon-tax legislation. We urge letters to Rep. Kilmer …
Citizens’ Climate Lobby workshop Sunday, June 29
Sunday, 6/29/2014, 3-5 pm, Elwha Heritage Center (socializing at 2:30) OCA has joined the Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL), a nationwide, non-partisan organization working to create the political will for a livable world. Personal changes to reduce carbon footprints are very important, but if we are going to halt global warming, we need systemic change. CCL is asking Congress to …
Continue reading "Citizens’ Climate Lobby workshop Sunday, June 29"
Olympic Climate Action 