What Happens Next?
Following the recent election and while still in the grips of a raging pandemic, climate change is getting the backseat treatment on our national agenda. And yet climate change is inextricably tied with the coronavirus, as discussed in a past post. Considering the change in leadership, how will climate change work materialize?
Promises of addressing our nation’s energy system and impact have been emerging for months from Biden’s team. Does this mean we will finally begin writing cohesive and responsible national energy policy? Maybe. Now is quite obviously the time to do so. But without trudging through these next few transitional months, let’s jump ahead in our imaginations and play out the next year or so… because wouldn’t that be more fun?
Okay, here goes:
The two trillion dollars promised back in summer of 2020 has begun to materialize in the shape of the Build Back Better plan. And what could we see?
Improved energy generation (reasonable emissions standards, emphasis on carbon neutral projects)
Improved transmission (culling wildfire vulnerabilities)
Improved distribution (localizing power in communities)
But that’s not all! There’s been talk of serious progress of instituting a more cohesive national energy policy which will:
Commit to leadership at the next global climate summit in Glasgow.
Expand energy efficiency upgrades for low-income households
Peacefully end domestic use of coal, limit fracking, and divest us from oil.
A sea-change of interest and investment in electric vehicles, including brand new EV trucks, vans, semis, and boats
Now that we have national leadership supporting state and local leadership, we will really just see an uptick in the work that was already happening in Washington. Some highlights include:
Washington utilities will continue to work towards the ambitious Clean Energy Transition Act (CETA) passed by Gov. Inslee in 2019
Fossil fuel export facilities will be even less successful in breaking through the Thin Green Line held by the region’s indigenous leaders
State incentives and private investment will continue to expand solar and storage infrastructure
Washington will invest heavily in research for coastal wind generation, biogas from waste, and deep carbon sequestration projects with afforestation, estuary protections and kelp forest expansion
I find looking ahead helpful and encouraging. It reminds me of the countless champions working today and everyday for our collective advancement towards a better world. Let’s take a breath and savor what has happened, and as Garth would say…