Delvin Decries Passage of Economy, Killing “Climate Change” Bill

OLYMPIA… Sen. Jerome Delvin, R-Richland, spoke out against passage of Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6001, the so-called “climate change” bill, passed last night by the House of Representatives.

The measure would essentially prevent Washington utilities from signing new long-term contracts for coal power – a move that could dramatically raise the cost of energy for ratepayers and businesses.

“Washington produces less greenhouse gas than any state in the nation,” said Delvin, a member of the Senate’s Water, Energy and Telecommunications Committee. “And only 16 percent of those gases come from electrical power generation – far more carbon dioxide is released by the state’s motor vehicles. Yet in the name of ‘climate change,’ this bill will cost us jobs, raise electricity rates, hurt the poor and elderly, and hit our businesses hard.”

Senate Bill 6001 requires the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to 25 percent below 1990 levels by 2035 and 50 percent below by 2050. It also demands that the state reduce total spending for foreign fuels 25 percent by 2020.

“You can only do so much with wind power and solar. Only two primary sources of power generate no greenhouse gases or carbon dioxide – hydropower and nuclear power,” said Delvin. “Thanks to hydropower, Washington has some of the cleanest electricity in America, but we’ve reached the limit of our hydropower capabilities.  Amazingly, our own Initiative 937 doesn’t count hydropower as a renewable energy source, so we sell it to California, which wisely does. Soon, the only answer remaining will be clean, cheap, safe nuclear power. Europe is flourishing with it, and many states Generate much of their power from nuclear plants. But the majority party in Washington won’t even open the discussion.”

Delvin explained that even Greenpeace co-founder Patrick Moore has changed his mind about expanding the use of nuclear power as a clean, safe source of energy. Currently in the U.S., 103 nuclear power plants provide 20 percent of America’s electricity. Another 60 percent comes from coal and non-renewable sources. Studies show that 80 percent of the people living around nuclear plants – even excluding those who work in the industry – approve of them.

“If Washington wants to avert climate change, let’s convert to nuclear power,” Delvin said. “If the U.S. had 60 percent of its electricity from nuclear power and just 20 percent from coal, not only would we comply with Kyoto, it would be like taking 100 million cars off the road! Instead, they pass a bill that will raise costs, burden the poor and elderly and hurt business – it’s wrongheaded and will do more harm than good.”