When they open their next bills many will be forced to choose between putting food on their tables and staying warm. This is an outrage and we are at this juncture because of a failure of leadership to plan for generating capacity. Northwest Power Planning Council figures show that peak demand for electricity in the Northwest has grown by 24 percent, while the power-producing capacity in the region has risen by only 4 percent. This is what our package aims to do. We can t just conserve our way to low prices and energy independence.
More power generation has to be a major part of Washington s long-term energy policy.
The proposal raises the mandatory coverage threshold from 250 megawatts to 650 megawatts. If this bill becomes law, five or six power plants could immediately increase power production by 20 to 50 megawatts per facility. During that same time, at least 13 gas-fired power facilities have been built that produce less than 250 megawatts. This measure will encourage more facilities to be built that produce greater power. This proposal calls for a state sales and use tax exemption for the construction of any new facility.