I-1631 would be costly and wouldn’t work as promised

Published 1:30 am Thursday, September 27, 2018

To listen to Gov. Jay Inslee you might think Initiative 1631 is the cure for global warming or climate change. Others asked you to look out your window and view the hazy skies from the wildfires and think I-1631 will somehow be a magic wand for such events.

In the end everyone in the state will see a dramatic increase in their cost of living due to higher gas prices and increased utilities costs. It has been stated that in the first year I-1631 will generate $1 billion with no clear course of action. This money will be overseen by a public board and will have authority to spend billions without any responsibility to the citizens or voters. This board is not elected but appointed and members are not required any special knowledge relating to global climate issues.

Currently Washington is No. 2 in the nation in renewable energy generation and use; with only one coal-fired facility in the state, which is already slated to go off line. Washington’s net renewable electricity generation already exceeds the state’s electricity use. Washington already adheres to nations toughest vehicle emissions standards and as a result our emissions have cleared to the point that the state is ending the vehicle emissions testing program.

I-1631 exempts many of the states largest manufacturing and industrial businesses.

A Washington-only program will have no impact on global climate change and certainly no effect on the wildfires. This will require a global solution. Do not be fooled, I-1631 will not produce the outcome being hyped by Inslee and others.

You will pay the cost of this ill-conceived blunder not some unnamed corporation.

Richard Duncan

Snohomish