The editorial “Keep lights on as Washington transitions to clean power” [April 5, Opinion] sends an important message that we need strong funding to help us make the clean energy transition happen in a timely manner.
The editorial wraps up with this vital statement: “State lawmakers and regulators must not lose sight of the threat to grid reliability. That doesn’t mean backing away from the challenge of climate change but the acknowledgment that a complete transformation of the electricity grid will require a commitment to funding new sources of generation that are still years from grid deployment.”
I’d like to add another option to this recommendation. Our members of Congress are working on clean energy permitting reform at the federal level. Several bills have been introduced. It sounds wonky, but permitting reform can make a huge difference in the building out of clean energy if we can get it permitted more efficiently. We need focused legislation that enables the building of clean energy capacity and transmission at both the state and federal levels of government.
Let your member of Congress know you care about this issue. All hands on deck. And, it’s fun to be wonky!
Bobbie Morgan, Bainbridge Island