October is here. It’s colder. The days are shorter. And it’s the time for political action. For every Another Green Monday leading up to November 2nd, I will write about what’s on your ballot. There are too many initiatives this year but I’ll do what I can as well as covering local races. To start off the series, I’ll briefly discuss a referendum and the item with the most direct environmental language in November: R-52.

Referendum 52 is designed to create bonding capacity dedicated to fixing our state’s public schools. The idea is to invest $500 million in the best efficiencies money can buy in local school – from elementary schools to universities and community colleges. So many of our state’s schools our aging with mold, lead and asbestos, which impacts students health and learning abilities.

A study by Carnegie Mellon University on the impact of indoor air quality on health found that improved indoor air quality reduced the incidence of the flu by 51 percent.  The referendum gives school districts Proponents claim this could create 30,000 new jobs. That sounds lofty at first but perhaps not. The job potential in energy efficiency retrofits is proven. For each 1.4 percent of annual efficiency gain in buildings, the economy produces about 181,000 jobs that involve fixing roofs, putting in insulation, replacing heating and cooling equipment, and conducting audits and energy evaluations of buildings. Also, for the Tea Baggers: The referendum doesn’t create any new taxes or fees for you. The funding is money borrowed by the state general fund. And yes, there’s a controversial component about a bottled water tax…

Still, this one is pretty easy: You have a chance to vote for an investments in healthy kids, local green jobs, and smart energy savings that put money toward education.

STA needs you! You might have noticed signs around town at a few of your favorite stops telling you of a closure. There will be more challenges in the future. Spokane Transit Authority is asking for help in cutting 7 percent from their budget next year.  Numerous routes are proposed for elimination including Medical Lake, a route serving Latah Valley and the No. 46 Altamont bus on the South Side, reductions in paratransit service for disabled riders and more. The cuts come from a downturn in sales tax collections, which make up two-thirds of the agency’s $60 million operating budget. According to the Spokesman, sales taxes began falling in 2008 and have dropped more than 12 percent from their peak in 2007 before leveling off this year. STA planners say they don’t expect to see a return to 2007 collections until 2016, for a cumulative loss of $81 million over eight years. Public comment will continue throughout the fall and will be used to write a draft recommendation to be released in January. The draft will go back out for public comment before final adoption by the STA board in March. Full story HERE.

Letter To The Editor. While I usually avoid mentioning an LTE, I couldn’t help after reading Kat Fiessinger’s “Bicyclists Getting Free Ride.” On the new downtown bike lanes, she says cyclists need to pay their fair share: "My question is, when did the bicyclists in this town/state/country pay the taxes that created the infrastructure that the new pathways are built on?"

Shallow Cogitations responds thusly: “Ohhh, same time as you did, Kat. Cyclists are just getting some fresh air and exercise, creating less pollution, having some fun, and saving wear and tear on the cars they own. Like you, Kat, I am appalled at their arrogant, selfish behavior.”

Nice. I find it amusing the bike lanes are creating more tension between cyclists and drivers. Does this mean Spokane has finally made it? Also, what’s funny is that most cyclists I know have a car as well. Timely subject, considering this piece in the Vancouver Sun on bikes versus cars and paying the fair share: “People who don’t drive much — including most true bike zealots — significantly subsidize those who drive a lot. And in any kilometre-by-kilometre comparison of city residents who travel exclusively by one mode or the other, drivers tend to pay less than their real costs, while riders pay more.” Full story HERE.

Public Hearings on Washington State’s Energy Strategy Update. The Washington state Department of Commerce is currently leading the effort to revise the State Energy Strategy, Washington state’s plan for meeting future energy needs.  The full revision is planned for completion and delivery to the state legislature by the end of 2011.  However, in the interim, the Department of Commerce will be submitting an update and initial policy recommendations to the Governor and legislature at the end of 2010.  This Draft State Energy Strategy Update is currently open to public comment until October 15. View the full text of the draft update HERE.

How to Comment?

Attend a public hearing:

Spokane Public Hearing
Tuesday, October 5
Time: 5:00-7:00pm
Washington State University Campus, Spokane
Academic Center Room 20
412 E. Spokane Falls Blvd.
Spokane, WA 99202

Tacoma Public Hearing
Wednesday, October 14
Time: 6:00-8:00pm
University of Washington Campus, Tacoma
Keystone Building, Carwein Auditorium
1900 Commerce Street

Send Comments via E-mail to energystrategy@commerce.wa.gov.

More information: http://www.commerce.wa.gov/site/1327/default.aspx

Please visit the Department of Commerce website at http://www.commerce.wa.gov/site/1327/default.aspx

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