AWB’s Subcommittee on Climate Change voted unanimously today to oppose the cap and trade bill included in the package. The governor’s proposal would cap air emissions and charge those exceeding the caps.

“For years, Washington state has been a leader in taking steps to preserve and protect our environment and promote energy independence. While our members remain committed to improving our air quality and will continue to work toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions, we believe the governor’s proposal creates a whole new set of costs for employers struggling to keep people working,” said AWB President Don Brunell.

“Right now, though, our members are concerned most with keeping their doors open. Passing legislation that imposes expensive cap and trade regulations adds costs. Those costs could lead to job losses at existing businesses and send the wrong signal to companies that are looking to locate in our state and create jobs, to go elsewhere,” he said. 

“Washington’s employer community has been a partner in a variety of green efforts ranging from wind energy to the reduction of CO2 emissions. We are not starting from zero in Washington when it comes to environmental regulation. Unfortunately, this bill fails to recognize the proactive steps our members have already taken and will only deter other businesses from investing in our state.”  

Recent polls, including a national survey conducted by the Pew Research Center, indicate the economy and jobs trump all other legislative priorities.

“Every dollar we spend on this is one more dollar we don’t have to spend on energy investments,” said Llewellyn Matthews executive director, Northwest Pulp and Paper Association and co-chair of the AWB Subcommittee on Climate Change. “Washington’s pulp and paper mills have met and in many cases exceed state environmental requirements, including recycling. Our mills self-produce most of their energy from sustainably grown biomass and some have reached as high as 85 percent of their needs, greatly exceeding the national average. These early efforts greatly reduce emissions of greenhouse gas emissions,” she said.

“The bill as proposed will not only negatively impact our ability to make further investments and achieve further progress, but threatens our economic viability.”

Dave McEntee, vice president of Simpson Investment Company and member of AWB’s board of directors, said they’re already investing in green jobs and infrastructure that has cut their emissions in half at the company’s Tacoma pulp and paper operations.

“We’re already invested in the green economy to the tune of $100 million in the last two years. We know about green jobs — we’ve invested in it and we’re doing it. Unfortunately, this bill does nothing more than add to the cost of doing business,” said McEntee.

“If it doesn’t help a company that made these investments today, how can you expect companies that are just getting involved to be successful, especially in this economy?”

House Bill 1819 and Senate Bill 5735 will be heard next Tuesday, Feb. 3 at 10 a.m. in the House and 11 a.m. in the Senate, respectively.

About the Association of Washington Business
Formed in 1904, the Association of Washington Business is Washington’s oldest and largest statewide business association, and includes more than 6,500 members representing 650,000 employees. AWB serves as both the state’s chamber of commerce and the manufacturing and technology association, and is just one of two chambers in the country accredited by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. While its membership includes major employers like Boeing, Microsoft and Weyerhaeuser, 90 percent of AWB members employ fewer than 100 people. More than half of AWB’s members employ fewer than 10. For more about AWB, visit www.awb.org.