Rep. Morris wants to increase state’s energy independence

12/30/2008

OLYMPIA – When it comes to creating new energy, as the saying goes, there’s no greater and more readily available source than the energy we waste.  

Experts agree, conservation efforts could satisfy a larger portion of our energy needs than most new sources of energy combined. A large part of the problem is appliances, homes, and buildings that are designed or use energy inefficiently.

That’s why State Representative Jeff Morris (D – Mount Vernon) will again take up the mantle of energy independence during the 2009 legislative session.     

Morris, an energy policy expert by trade, led efforts in the state Legislature in 2005 that resulted in adoption of new efficiency standards for many appliances and electrical equipment in Washington. In the first year after enactment, Morris’ bill, HB 1062, was estimated to save Washington over 400 million gallons of water, 1.9 million therms of natural gas, and 136 million KW hours of electricity.

By 2020, those savings could equal:

• Nearly 3% of our current commercial sector consumption of natural gas

• Enough electricity to power over 90,000 homes

• Annual water savings reaching 2 billion gallons -- enough to meet Olympia's current water needs for one year

• A cumulative reduction of greenhouse gases by 14 billion pounds of CO2 -- comparable to removing over one million average vehicles off our roads for a year

“Not only do these policies make sense from an energy conservation standpoint, they make sense economically,” says Morris. “For consumers and businesses of Washington state, those savings equal nearly half a billion dollars in energy savings.”

As a result, our state has become a national leader in conservation efforts. In fact, for the past two years the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) has ranked Washington sixth in the nation in energy-saving policy.      

The ACEEE bases their rankings on the following criteria:

• Fuel economy standards for vehicles

• Energy efficiency resource standards for utilities

• Appliance efficiency standards

• Building energy codes

• Combined heat and power (CHP) technologies

• Smart growth and public transportation policies

• Tax incentives for efficient technologies

• Energy efficiency in public buildings and fleets

This year, Rep. Morris has his sights on rising even higher in the ACEEE rankings with House Bill 1004, expanding energy efficiency standards to several other appliances, from wine chillers to portable electric spas.

In addition, Morris would like to extend the expiration dates for existing tax incentives on machinery and equipment used in generating “green” electricity, such as fuel cells, wind, sun, or landfill gas. Providing this tax break has been a proven method in helping foster these emerging clean industries, believes Morris.

To learn more about the ACEEE and read the report on states’ rankings, or learn how you can save energy, visit: http://www.aceee.org/press/e086pr.htm