Washington: Brian Hatfield

Just to keep us on our toes, state legislative committee assignments change with each election cycle, creating a new environment for progressive legislation every two years, either newly hostile or newly receptive. The Washington Senate’s Environment, Water and Energy committee is one whose makeup makes it less receptive to forward-thinking environmental legislation this year with the addition of two senators whose green records are less than stellar.

All state environmental legislation must pass through the EWE committee, which considers issues relating to water, climate change, and energy efficiency. Washington’s environmental community is expecting strong legislation this session on such big issues as a cap and invest carbon trading system, controlling storm water runoff, and making our buildings more energy efficient.