I-937 requires that large electric utilities increase their use of renewable energy sources to account for at least 15 percent of their power by 2020. Sure, in an era of climate change fears, and a push for alternative energy supplies to wean us from our dependence on foreign sources it sounded like a step in the right direction. But I-937 had some serious and expensive flaws and the Legislature - with the waiting period for tinkering with an initiative over - is looking at ways to fix those problems.
I-937 requires that large electric utilities increase their use of renewable energy sources to account for at least 15 percent of their power by 2020. Sure, in an era of climate change fears, and a push for alternative energy supplies to wean us from our dependence on foreign sources it sounded like a step in the right direction. But I-937 had some serious and expensive flaws and the Legislature - with the waiting period for tinkering with an initiative over - is looking at ways to fix those problems.
We said Initiative 937 was bad policy when it was headed to the ballot in 2006 but voters in the state decided otherwise and passed the feel-good initiative with just over 51 percent approval.
I-937 requires that large electric utilities increase their use of renewable energy sources to account for at least 15 percent of their power by 2020.
Sure, in an era of climate change fears, and a push for alternative energy supplies to wean us from our dependence on foreign sources it sounded like a step in the right direction.
But I-937 had some serious and expensive flaws and the Legislature - with the waiting period for tinkering with an initiative over - is looking at ways to fix those problems.
While we aren't fans of lawmakers …
... more [truncated due to possible copyright]We said Initiative 937 was bad policy when it was headed to the ballot in 2006 but voters in the state decided otherwise and passed the feel-good initiative with just over 51 percent approval.
I-937 requires that large electric utilities increase their use of renewable energy sources to account for at least 15 percent of their power by 2020.
Sure, in an era of climate change fears, and a push for alternative energy supplies to wean us from our dependence on foreign sources it sounded like a step in the right direction.
But I-937 had some serious and expensive flaws and the Legislature - with the waiting period for tinkering with an initiative over - is looking at ways to fix those problems.
While we aren't fans of lawmakers overriding the will of the people, we do encourage tweaking that will stay faithful to the intent of the voters while making this law more workable.
Three ideas being considered by the Legislature do just that.
First, expanding the definition of renewable energy, makes sense. The initiative, for some reason, did not consider hydropower a renewable resource.
As we said at the time, that's absurd. It is by its very definition renewable. Initiative sponsors apparently were excluding that power source as a bow to anti-dam factions who believe salmon recovery efforts will fail unless the dams are breached.
Regardless of how you feel about dams and salmon, hydropower is renewable and to say it isn't, as I-937 does, is disingenuous.
Second, allowing utilities to buy alternative power generated outside the Northwest and have it count toward their 15 percent makes sense. After all, if 15 percent of a utility's power comes from renewable sources the utility is meeting the requirement. Why does that power need to be generated in the state?
Also, lawmakers are looking at giving utilities credit for the energy they save. That also makes sense.
If the idea was to have less energy generated in the state through sources that are not renewable all those things would help accomplish that goal.
Without the changes, the initiative will be costly. And that cost will go directly to ratepayers. Since November, 2006, when I-937 was passed, the economy has slumped and expensive, feel-good laws make even less sense.
Locally, we can take pride in the efforts Cowlitz PUD has made toward increasing its portfolio of "green" power.
Its wind farm projects were in the works before I-937 ever came along. Though most of Cowlitz PUD's power comes from hydro, the utility has been proactive in exploring other, eco-friendly, options for generating electricity.
The environmental groups that backed I-937 are digging in against changes to the law, as would be expected.
If they decide to go back to voters to reaffirm the desirability of this initiative they'll likely find a different mood because of the economic downturn.
Even in 2006, the majority of the state's counties voted against the measure, including Cowlitz County with about 57 percent here voting no, to 43 percent yes.
Once again, Seattle's King County was the big difference-maker, with almost 60 percent of the voters in the state's most populous county voting in favor.
Regardless, voters approved I-937, and now we can hope the Legislature will make it workable.