Trans Alta Bill Is Finally Law

This week, the Trans Alta Coal Plant Bill, was signed by Gov Gregoire and is now law. 
Senator Maralyn Chase was at the bill signing.

Governor Gregoire signed the Trans-Alta Bill 

The Centralia Coal Plant will be phased to natural gas by 2025 and continue to provide crucial family-wage jobs in the Centralia area for many years to come. The coal plant is one of the largest contibutors of carbon pollution in WA State. Passage of this bill was one of the top four Environmental Priorities Bills for the Environmental Priorities Coalition.

Trans-Alta Plant
ph credit, Earthjustice

Bloomsberg has the story for AP.

CENTRALIA, WASH.

Gov. Chris Gregoire has signed legislation that will gradually shut down the TransAlta Corp. plant, the only coal-burning power plant in Washington.

The governor went to the Centralia plant Friday to sign the bill recently passed by the Legislature to improve public health.

The legislation calls for TransAlta to provide $55 million in economic development assistance and to install new pollution controls at the plant before it finally closes by 2025.

TransAlta will get expedited permits to build a natural gas-fired plant in Lewis County to come online by 2020. The Canadian company also will be allowed enter into long-term agreements to sell its electricity to other utilities.

Senator Chase released this statement this week:

Senator Maralyn Chase
(D) 32nd Dist

Sen. Chase applauds “mutually beneficial” deal to close coal plant 

OLYMPIA – Sen. Maralyn Chase, D-Shoreline, was one of several elected officials present in Centralia on Friday as Gov. Gregoire signed a bill which will close the TransAlta coal plant in 2025.

“This issue has been a particular passion of mine for many, many years,” said Sen. Chase, who proposed a similar measure while a member of the House in 2005 and is a co-sponsor of this year’s version of the bill. “I’m so pleased that all sides were able to come together for a mutually beneficial solution to a problem that has plagued our environment for so long.”

Under Senate Bill 5769, the first of two boilers at the TransAlta plant will be shut down by 2020 with the second scheduled to follow in 2025. This bill provides a timetable for moving off coal energy production that protects the public's health, supports the continued vibrancy of the Centralia community and economy, and lays out a plan for the future of TransAlta.

This plan requires the Canada-based TransAlta Corporation to provide $55 million for economic development and other assistance and install additional air pollution controls. In exchange, the company will be allowed to enter into long-term agreements to sell coal powered electricity to other utilities, while protecting ratepayers.

The Centralia coal energy facility is a major source of greenhouse gases and other pollutants.

“This is a monumental victory not only for people concerned about the long-term health of our environment, but for those who still believe government can work together to solve problems,” Sen. Chase said. “I applaud Sen. (Phil) Rockefeller and Rep. (Richard) DeBolt as well as negotiators for TransAlta , the environmental community, and citizen activists from across the state for their hard work and sacrifice during this process.”

Impact Fees - One Revenue Option for the State

The Carnegie Group, a non-profit in the Olympia Area, has sent a letter to Governor Gregoire.


They are requesting that the State consider Impact Fees as an untapped resource 
that could help balance the revenue and budgetary  challenges ahead this session in Olympia.


Tom Holz is Past Chair of the organization. He is an expert on "zero impact design", which proposes attractive alternatives to existing drainage solutions which will literally allow responsible development which leaves little impact and can be built with existing technologies. He also serves on the Board of People for Puget Sound.

The Carnegie Group of Olympia

Buck’s Fifth Avenue

209 Fifth Ave. SE

Olympia, WA  98501

360 866 1791

November 9, 2010

Governor Christine Gregoire

Office of the Governor
PO Box 40002
Olympia, WA 98504-0002

Dear Governor Gregoire:

SUBJECT: STATE IMPACT FEES

The State of Washington has suffered a severe setback in the 

recent election that has greatly worsened our budget crisis.  Temporary 

tax measures were eliminated, and Eyman Initiative-1053 makes it 

clear that new taxes require a two-thirds majority vote of the legislature.

The resulting inevitable budget cuts will hurt many people including 

children and troubled families.  Moreover the ability of the state to protect 

and preserve our environment is hamstrung at a time when the health of 

Puget Sound is hanging by a thread.

However, a state impact fee on new development remains an untapped 

source of revenue that does not require new taxes.  Currently massive 

subsidies are provided by the state for the development industry.  The 

state is forced to absorb enormous costs to build new infrastructure to 

support growth.  This new infrastructure is paid for by all state residents 

(through taxes) instead of only by those who create the demand for and 

benefit from the new infrastructure.  Because the newcomers are generally 

wealthier than existing state residents (they can afford new half-million 

dollar homes) this subsidy is in effect a transfer of wealth from the poor 

to the rich. 

We recommend that the state immediately commission an impact fee 

study to inform the legislature about fee schedules and to be completed 

in time for incorporation into a bill before adjournment.  The 

infrastructure to be funded by capital facilities charges (impact fees) 

on new dwelling units should initially include: 

• State Parks
• Schools and colleges
• State transportation roadways and rolling stock (buses and trains)
• State penal system
• Justice systems
• State Patrol capital facilities
• Social and health services
• State funding for new energy
• State portion of water, sewer, solid waste

Voluminous analytical material is available on this topic from our 

own local jurisdictions and other states.  And, as the study progresses, 

other infrastructure facilities will be identified as candidates for funding.

We further recommend that, in lieu of a moratorium on development 

activity, the provisions of this law be retroactive to January 1, 2011.

The Carnegie Group of Olympia is prepared to help promote this 

bill to legislators and other citizen groups as well as to supplement 

the technical work needed on any impact fee research.

Sincerely,

Thomas W. Holz, Past President

On behalf of The Carnegie Group of Olympia

BOARD OF DIRECTORS