ENVIRONMENT Environmental and progressive groups urge partial veto of Puget Sound Energy bill

Gov. Jay Inslee is under pressure from environmentalists and progressive groups to veto part of a bill meant to hasten Puget Sound Energy’s transition away from natural gas.

These advocates support much of what’s in the bill but are concerned the version the Legislature approved earlier this month offers too many financial perks for the investor-owned utility, while not doing enough to protect its ratepayers from price hikes.

In a letter to Inslee, they warn that the bill as written “will lead to significant short-term rate increases which will disproportionately impact low- and moderate-income households.”

Among the groups that signed onto that letter and that are asking for a section of House Bill 1589 to be vetoed are the Sierra Club, Washington State Budget and Policy Center, Washington State Community Action Partnership, and Sightline Institute. The Sierra Club said Friday that over 900 people had emailed the governor as part of its campaign calling for the partial veto.

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2024/03/17/environmental-and-progressive-groups-urge-partial-veto-of-puget-sound-energy-bill/