<HTML><BODY style="word-wrap: break-word; -khtml-nbsp-mode: space; -khtml-line-break: after-white-space; "><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Gov. Chris Gregoire's proposal to regulate the emission of greenhouse gases linked to global warming is facing serious challenges in the Legislature. The Senate Committee on Environment, Water and Energy today passed a version that gutted the heart of the plan by making it voluntary for businesses to participate.</DIV><SPAN style=""><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="LucidaGrande" size="4"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12.6667px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10.6667px; "></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></FONT></SPAN><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal">HB 1819 creates a means to auction allowances to release large amounts of greenhouse gas. A substitute version of the bill was approved and recommended by the House Committee on Ecology and Parks last week and is headed to the House Committee for General Government Appropriations tomorrow. </DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal"> <O:P></O:P></DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal">If you read the editorials in the press you may have the wrong impression of this bill. The initial allocation would be at no cost to any participant. Allowance prices would be determined by auction, but the projected allowances begin at $20 and would rise to $70 per metric ton by 2020. Only heavy industry and utilities emitting more than 25,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas in a year would be required to participate in 2012. After 2015 other sectors such as transportation would be required to join, but again only entities that emit more than 25,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas each year. Similar auctions of allowances have been successful in reducing ozone and acid rain. </DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal"> <O:P></O:P></DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal">The Western Climate Initiative wrote the model bill. They are a working group supported by the governors and premiers of 11 Western States and Provinces. Should a majority of the participants adopt the same system and put it in place at the same time, there will not be a deleterious effect on business.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal"><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal">You are urged to contact your legislators in the House and Senate to support this important legislation.</DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal"><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal">Submitted by</DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal">Eleanor Hungate</DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal">Yakima County State Committeewoman</DIV><DIV><SPAN style=""><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="LucidaGrande" size="4"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14.6667px;"></SPAN></FONT></SPAN><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="LucidaGrande" size="4"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></SPAN></FONT></DIV><DIV><SPAN style=""><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="LucidaGrande" size="4"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14.6667px;"> </SPAN></FONT></SPAN> </DIV></DIV></BODY></HTML>