Thomas Young, thomas.young@sierraclub.org
Bellevue, WA — Today, Puget Sound Energy (PSE) set an aspirational goal to reach “net zero carbon emissions” across its electric and gas operations by 2045, and to cut gas — for use in homes and buildings — 30% by 2030. However, the utility has no plans to stop distributing polluting-gas to customers, or even to stop plans for near-term expansion of gas infrastructure for electric generation.
If PSE is serious about cutting emissions from its gas and electric operations, rather than simply setting an “aspirational goal,” the utility should increase its ambition and make near-term steps to demonstrably validate its goals, including:
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Incorporate any goals into the long-range gas and electric plan known as the Integrated Resource Plan (Docket #200304 and 200305 before the Utilities and Transportation Commission)
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Eliminate ratepayer subsidies for new gas lines and not merely “modify” existing tariffs
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Leave the gas industry front group, Partnership for Energy Progress, which has attempted to hide the true harms of gas pollution and greatly exaggerated the viability of biomethane
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Commit to stop expanding gas infrastructure and building gas plants for the electric utility
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Account for the Washington state Department of Commerce’s recently completed state energy strategy, which shows converting buildings to run on clean electricity -- instead of gas -- is the most cost-effective pathway to achieve the state’s climate goals
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Support HB 1084, the Healthy Homes bill, since that is the most important piece of legislation to help PSE make good on its aspirations
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Meaningfully include social cost of carbon and upstream methane emissions in assessments of the impacts of gas
“PSE’s goal to cut emissions from its gas utility 30% by 2030 is an important step in the right direction, but achieving it through offsets could perpetuate pollution in communities, and not actually cut any gas,” says Doug Howell, Senior Campaign Representative at the Sierra Club. “Also, ‘modifying’ subsidies for gas makes it sound like PSE will continue wasting customer money on new gas infrastructure. It’s time for PSE to plan to eliminate its gas operations, which waste customer money, endanger public health and safety, and keep climate-altering emissions spewing into the atmosphere and onto marginalized populations.”
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The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.