La Conner Weekly News - Your independent hometown award-winning newspaper

The Skagit Valley’s environment and economy has been shaped over time by changes in our climate and land use. Some of these changes have resulted in devastating impacts to our communities, including floods, heat waves, droughts and wildfires.

In 2021, our farmers and farmworkers witnessed one of their driest years with record low rainfall in spring and a vicious heat wave in summer. By late July, the Washington Department of Ecology issued a drought emergency as farmers dealt with dry conditions, extreme heat and lack of water.

Just a few months ago, La Conner declared a state of emergency after a higher-than-predicted king tide flooded the streets. At least fourteen homes and businesses were affected with over a million dollars in flood damage to the town.

It takes all of us to protect our communities, local economy and environment. Together, we know that Washington can lead the way in developing a strong clean energy economy that provides high-wage jobs without leaving our current workforce behind. We’re committed to environmental initiatives that make sense, are cost-effective and bring us all together.

Our environmental future is in green hydrogen. By turning water into clean fuel, green hydrogen is sustainable, storable and a viable form of energy. Using our existing infrastructure, this technology can create profitable jobs, foster innovation that will spur our local economy and push our state to be energy independent.

Green hydrogen can be used in refineries, fertilizer production and replace fossil fuels in emissions- heavy vehicles like trucks, ships and planes. Perhaps the best part is that green hydrogen can be implemented with minimal disruption to our jobs and local economy. As demand increases, we can use existing pipelines and tank storage systems with our current workforce.

Green hydrogen is safer than conventional fuels – gasoline, propane and diesel. With rigid testing standards and a lower risk of ignition, green hydrogen technology has come a long way in safety.

After speaking with farmers and farmworkers, environmental advocates, small business owners, refinery workers and labor unions, I introduced House Bill 1768. My sixth bill to pass the House this session, HB 1768 received overwhelming bipartisan support. This bill encourages utility businesses to use clean energy – green hydrogen – through an incentivized public utility tax exemption.

This bill is a critical step in fostering public-private partnerships and creating less demand for other inefficient energy options. I will be working to get this vital bill passed this legislative session. If you wish to get involved with supporting this legislation, please reach out to my office. You can contact me at housedemocrats.wa.gov/shavers.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to continue my life-long dedication to public service. As a veteran having attended the U.S. Naval Academy, graduated from Naval Nuclear Power School, trained at a naval nuclear reactor plant and served in the Middle East and Southeast Asia as a public affairs officer, I am now honored to serve you.