ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCACY
Fund heat pumps in state budget
If you have been tracking the progress made to reduce carbon emissions from buildings, our number two and fastest-growing source of climate pollution, you may have a hint of a smile on your face.
Remember the Vashon-Maury Island Community Council endorsement of a King County proposal to require climate-friendly electric heat pumps for home space and water heating (versus climate-damaging fossil fuels) in new commercial and multi-family construction? That proposal was approved!
Soon after, the State Building Code Council approved a ruling requiring heat pumps in new residential construction. Progress!
One problem: the keyword in these proposals is “new.” New commercial and multi-family construction. New residential construction. What about our existing homes and buildings?
The legislature has an opportunity to electrify existing buildings in the next few weeks – if they allocate the funding! I hope our state legislators will support $200 million in the state budget using Climate Commitment Act funds to create incentives for homeowners to trade out their fossil fuel furnaces and water heaters for clean and efficient electric heat pumps.
This will help address the climate crisis and public health and safety. It will make heat pumps accessible to Washingtonians who cannot afford the upfront expenses. Heat pumps do not create indoor air pollution. They do provide cooling during life-threatening heat domes which we experienced last summer.
Join me in asking our legislators to include $200 million for heat pumps in the state budget, and to do so in this legislative session.
Kevin Jones
DEPARTMENT OF FISH & WILDLIFE
The challenge to reform
On Jan. 19, The Beachcomber published my letter about the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife, which contained a couple of regrettable errors that obscured my point about the urgent need to re-examine how we manage our wildlife.
In my critique, I conflated the Fish & Wildlife Commission with the Department’s administrative leadership. Thanks to the work of dedicated advocates, the Commission has made strides toward being more representative of the Washington people. With the three additional appointments that Gov. Inslee made on March 1, even greater progress is possible.
But the Commission faces a challenge in reforming state wildlife management, which is based on a model developed more than 100 years ago, focusing on serving hunters and anglers. In fact, some hunting groups are trying to turn back the clock by urging the ouster of two female Commissioners, Lorna Smith and Melanie Rowland, because they voted against the spring bear hunt (which 80% of Washingtonians oppose) and have expressed concern about the continued decimation of our predator population. Although some male Commissioners have taken identical positions, Smith and Rowland were singled out as women who “do not belong” on the Commission because they are too “emotional.”
Ironically, while Smith and Rowland grounded their positions on facts, science, and ethics, it was primarily the proponents of the spring bear hunt who injected their feelings into the debate. Notably, Department Director Kelly Susewind made an emotional plea trying to save the spring bear hunt, emphasizing his personal need to “experience” springtime killing.
Like Smith and Rowland, I stand with the vast majority of Washingtonians, who are not opposed to hunting, but believe our wildlife has intrinsic value. That means examining why and how we hunt different species, evaluating rules, ensuring they are ethical and humane, and emphasizing the protection of healthy ecosystems over hunters’ demands for animals to kill.
I encourage islanders who share these views to engage with our homegrown nonprofit, Washington Wildlife First, which is dedicated to making state wildlife management more democratic and compassionate, ensuring that our primary focus is on protecting our biodiversity against looming threats.
Jessica Livosky
