A Republican lawmaker warns energy prices will soar with passage of the Democrats decarbonization plan.
House Bill 1589 aims to assist Puget Sound Energy, the state’s largest utility, to meet carbon emission reduction goals by moving away from natural gas in favor of electricity. Representative Mary Dye, ranking Republican on the House Environment and Energy Committee, fought with other Republicans against the measure.
“The utility is responding to the Clean Energy Transformation Act, to the Climate Commitment Act – and they’re responding to the laws and this is their answer. We’re going to make sure that our ratepayers will pay the cost of the clean energy transformation.”
Dye says the legislation would escalate overall costs of living for every Washingtonian.
“The cost, total, to the residential customers in the Puget Sound Energy service territory, will be anywhere between seven and 10 billion dollars.”
The measure barely passed the House, 50-45, with seven Democrats joining all Republicans in voting against it. It’s been delivered to the governor for his signature.
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