Several island residents are actively engaged in climate change issues and are encouraging others to get involved in the weeks ahead.

Lobbying in Olympia

Last week, six islanders focused on climate change issues headed to Olympia where they took part in a lobby day.

Currently, three carbon reduction policies are before the Legislature, and while Vashon’s legislators are supportive of climate change action, islander Julie Burman stressed that they need to hear from constituents on this issue.

“Say ‘We need to do something about climate now,’” Burman, who attended the lobby day, said. “The message does not need to be more complicated than that.”

The policies currently before the state Legislature include accelerating 100 percent fossil-free electricity, putting a price on carbon pollution and advancing clean fuels.

According to information provided by three organizations working on climate change issues, one of the pieces of legislation, SB 6253, would, in part, require that all new investments in energy resources be fossil free, phase out coal by 2030 and result in a 100 percent carbon redution by 2045.

Additionally, information from those organizations — Climate Solutions, Audubon Washington and Washington Women CAN — states that there are several carbon pricing policies being considered. The most effective policy, they say, would include putting an escalating price on pollution while addressing the needs of those affected to ensure a “vibrant clean-energy economy;” investing in clean air and energy, healthy forests and clean water, while creating jobs in the process; and providing protections for workers whose jobs might be phased out due to the changes.

Another piece of legislation, HB 2338, would require refineries to reduce carbon intensity in fuels, expand electric transportation and create more clean-energy jobs.

Margie Morgan, who also attended the lobbying day, said it is likely that whatever legislation succeeds will be a combination of all three.

“I hope that just something passes,” Burman added.

Others who attended, including islander Jim Diers, say it’s important to speak up so that legislators understand that climate change has become a mainstream issue and that people want action. In addition to targeting Vashon legislators, they recommend reaching out to friends and family across the state whose legislators might be less willing than Vashon’s to pass legislation this year.

Burman, who heads the local Audubon chapter, noted that the National Audubon Society has been a leader on climate change issues.

“Birds are like a canary in the coal mine,” she said. “If we do not take care of our birds, we are not taking care of our kids and everything else we care about.”

Carbon-Free Town Hall

Currently, another group of islanders is getting ready to host a town hall on Saturday focused on influencing on the power Puget Sound Energy will provide in the future.

Kevin Jones, who is one of the leaders of this effort on Vashon, says that energy generation is at a crossroads, and those who speak up can influence PSE’s direction away from coal and toward renewable sources by 2030.

A panel, including Doug Howell of the Sierra Club and islanders Michael Laurie and Andy James, will provide information and answer questions on Saturday. James noted that a group of islanders has been working for months with Washington’s Utilities and Transportation Commission, which regulates utility companies. The commission has extended its deadline for comment until Feb. 22 and will hold a public hearing the day before.

“We can offer to people that we can help them be players in the process,” James said.

Lisa Chambers, one of those involved in this effort, noted that Vashon is surrounded by utility companies that rely on renewable energy sources far more than PSE does.

“They are a huge outlier,” she said of PSE.

The primary objective of the day, organizers say, is to educate people about where their power comes from, that there is a decision to be made and that at this crossroads, if PSE turns more to fossil fuels, that infrastructure will be around for 30 more years.

James noted that those who attend Saturday will learn how to raise their voices: through commenting online, attending a hearing or testifying at the hearing.

“We feel we have a positive vision: “Turn on your lights and feel good about it, with solar power and wind turbines across the Northwest and jobs that go with them,” he said.

Chambers considers this work to be a rare opportunity to bring about change.

Jones agreed. “We can lead you right up to the people who will say ‘yeah’ or ‘nay,” he said.

The town hall will meet at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Vashon Presbyterian Church. For more information, email kevinjonvash@gmail.com or find the Vashon Climate Action Group on Facebook.