As November approaches, we must consider how our votes influence the future of the Spokane River and our environment. Climate change poses an urgent challenge, affecting water quality, river health, and the ecosystems that depend on clean, flowing water. This election season, several ballot initiatives will challenge existing efforts to address these critical issues. In this article, we break down the key initiatives on the ballot and share our recommendations for voting in favor of a healthier, more resilient river.
Oppose Initiative 2117
Ballot Initiative 2117 repeals Washington’s Climate Commitment Act (CCA). Repealing the CCA would seriously jeopardize the restoration work in the Spokane River watershed and its surrounding environment. The Act's cap-and-invest framework funds critical projects that directly address pollution, habitat restoration, and water quality improvement, all essential for the river’s health. Without this funding, efforts to combat rising water temperatures, reduce toxic contamination, and restore habitats for endangered species like salmon would suffer significantly.
Initiative 2117 would effectively prohibit any future carbon reduction tax credits. Lawmakers passed the CCA into law in 2021, providing the state direction for climate action and environmental justice. By implementing a cap-and-invest system, the Act generates revenue specifically allocated to projects benefiting those most affected by environmental degradation and climate impacts. Additionally, the Act prioritizes community engagement and ensures that underrepresented voices participate in decision-making processes, fostering equity in environmental policies. Overall, the Climate Commitment Act aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while creating a more equitable and sustainable future for all communities, ensuring that everyone has access to a healthy environment.
Moreover, the Act promotes environmental justice by directing resources to communities most affected by climate change, including those who rely on the Spokane River for cultural, recreational, and economic purposes. The cap-and-invest program prioritizes environmental justice initiatives by focusing on projects that benefit historically underserved communities, including tribes that rely on salmon for cultural and subsistence purposes, ensuring equitable distribution of the benefits of climate action. Repealing it would halt progress in tackling these climate and pollution challenges, endangering both the river’s ecosystem and the livelihoods that depend on it.
The Washington Cap-and-Invest program plays a crucial role in supporting salmon restoration by generating revenue from carbon emissions allowances, which reinvest in environmental projects across the state. A significant portion of this funding directs towards habitat restoration for salmon, a species vital to Washington's ecosystems and tribal communities. By addressing climate impacts such as warming rivers and degraded habitats, these investments improve water quality and restore crucial spawning grounds.
A diverse and large coalition of organizations opposes Initiative 2117, highlighting widespread concern over its potential impact on environmental protections and community health. From local environmental groups to public health advocates, these organizations recognize that the initiative could undermine vital efforts to combat climate change and safeguard our natural resources.
Oppose Initiative 2066
If passed, Initiative 2066 would require utilities and local governments to provide natural gas to eligible customers, even where other, better options exist. The initiative would also prohibit cost-effective planning around a large utility’s natural gas infrastructure. Furthermore, it would also reverse progress made across the state to advance green building codes. This initiative would ensure continued fossil fuel consumption in the built environment into perpetuity, greatly undermining the State’s climate goals.
Green building infrastructure, such as solar power and heat pumps, support river health by reducing reliance on fossil fuels that contribute to climate change, as well as air and water pollution. By reducing pollution and energy demand, these technologies help protect water quality and preserve the ecosystems that rivers sustain. Initiative 2066 would significantly hinder efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote sustainable construction practices. Without the existing regulations, developers would revert to less sustainable practices, increasing reliance on fossil fuels, building homes and buildings that exacerbate climate change and energy consumption. This regression not only undermines progress toward climate goals but also threatens the overall health of our ecosystems and communities, making it more challenging to combat climate change effectively.
Additionally, this initiative would significantly impact a large utility’s ability to keep the price of our energy affordable . By mandating that utilities provide natural gas to all customers, even in areas where alternative energy options exist, the initiative restricts their ability to phase out aging infrastructure and transition to clean energy without increasing costs for the public. More so, it prevents state approval of rate plans that would incentivize the termination of gas service, thereby hindering utilities' flexibility to modernize or upgrade their systems. This would place the cost burden of the aging infrastructure on the shrinking natural gas customer base, which increasingly consists of low income households.
Aging natural gas infrastructure poses a significant threat to the Spokane River by increasing the risk of contamination caused by aging infrastructure and harmful methane leaks. As pipelines and their supporting infrastructure deteriorate, they become more susceptible to failures that can release harmful pollutants. The existing pipelines run under and near the river, all throughout the region, and are already posing a threat to our region and its waterways. Avista has about 75 miles of natural gas transmission pipeline and 5,800 miles in the distribution system in Washington and 3,300 miles in Idaho. Additionally, TC Energy operates the GTN Xpress natural gas pipeline through Spokane Valley, directly under the Spokane River. If a pipeline rupture and fire similar to what happened in Strasburg, VA, occurred in Spokane, the results could be catastrophic.
Initiative 2066 also faces opposition from a diverse and large coalition, including environmental organizations, public health advocates, and community groups. Their collective voice emphasizes the need for policies that prioritize sustainability and equity, reflecting a shared commitment to safeguarding the environment for current and future generations.
Your Vote Matters
This November, your vote can make a real difference for the Spokane River and our community. The Spokane River is more than just a waterway; it serves as a source of life, recreation, and culture for our community. Let’s ensure that it remains healthy for generations to come by casting our votes in favor of environmental stewardship and river protection.