Gov. Christine Gregoire attracted national attention May 3, when she signed Washington’s historic climate change bill, SB 6001, into law. The bill, introduced by Sen. Craig Pridemore (D-Vancouver), legally enacts the governor’s timeline for reducing climate-changing emissions from sectors including transportation, industry and power production. The law complements many of the goals the governor set in the Washington Climate Challenge, an executive order issued Feb. 7, 2007.

“Today, we are saying that, here, in this Washington, no more delay, no more doubt, no more excuses,” Gov. Gregoire said upon signing the bill. “Today, together, we take action.”

The law sets severe limits on the carbon emissions from power plants built or used to meet the electricity needs of Washington residents. It also establishes milestones for reducing greenhouse gas emissions — the first, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the state of Washington to 1990 levels by 2010. It also calls for a significant increase in the number of jobs in the clean energy sector. Along with the development of renewable energy, it calls for increased energy efficiency in industry, buildings, transportation and homes. 

The effects of climate change are already noticeable in the state of Washington. The average yearly temperatures rose faster over the 20th Century in Washington than the global average, according to the University of Washington’s Climate Impacts Group. The glaciers in the North Cascades have significantly diminished in size since 1950, and snow pack in the Cascades has declined by 35 percent.