'Clean Energy, Green Jobs' Plan Proposed

Majority Democrats in the Washington State Senate unveiled a package of proposed laws on Jan. 28 that they say will boost the state's energy efficiency while creating thousands of "green jobs."

It's the latest of several legislative proposals that would use state spending to boost construction and other projects, with the hope of injecting some life into the moribund economy.

The Democrats' announcement comes amid news that electronics giant Hewlett-Packard is laying off at least 150 workers in Vancouver, and that Weyerhaeuser is closing a sawmill and a veneer mill in Aberdeen, eliminating about 220 jobs in the already hard-hit area.

The plan, which Senate Democratic leaders are calling "Clean Energy, Green Jobs," would direct money from the anticipated federal stimulus package and the state's construction budget to "green" building projects.

It would require new buildings to have zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, and older buildings would need to significantly decrease emissions by that date.

The package also would:

• Require the state motor pool to phase in vehicles that have a fuel efficiency rating of at least 36 miles per gallon.
• Weatherize the homes of low-income residents through an existing program.
• Include multiple sales tax breaks for purchases of hybrid or electric vehicles.

Democrats said the plan is designed to encourage businesses to become more environmentally friendly. They also said the era of competition between business and environmental interests is a thing of the past