Submitted by Puget Sound Energy
Puget Sound Energy has formed an advisory group of regional, state and industry leaders as part of its aspirational goal to be a Beyond Net Zero Carbon company by 2045. This committee will provide counsel and recommendations to help move PSE further, faster toward a cleaner energy future, while ensuring the company’s energy resources help Washington state and its customers and communities reduce their carbon impacts.
“When we committed to taking aggressive steps to address climate change, we knew it wasn’t an issue we could tackle on our own,” said PSE President and CEO Mary Kipp. “By partnering with a diverse group of leaders from our community, we believe we have the best chance of reaching our aspirational goals without leaving anyone behind.”
Former Washington Governor Christine Gregoire is chairing the advisory group. Her legacy includes creation of the Pacific Coast Collaborative – formed in 2008 between Washington, Oregon and California and the Province of British Columbia – to coordinate regional action on climate change. As Governor, she was responsible for issuing an executive order setting the first carbon emission reduction goals for the State of Washington.
“Climate change is a global crisis, but we are experiencing the effects right here in Washington state with vanishing snowpack, devastating wildfires and catastrophic weather events,” said former Washington Governor Christine Gregoire. “Washington State has been a source of leadership in the fight against climate change for decades. I look forward to engaging in a collaborative process that continues that tradition and inspires bold ideas and actions that help accelerate solutions that will set us on a path to a healthy and sustainable future.”
The William D. Ruckleshaus Center, a joint effort of the University of Washington and Washington State University, has signed on to be the facilitator, and oversee the process of exploring and developing collaborative, effective solutions.
Committee members include:
- Christine Gregoire, Chair, Former Washington State Governor
- Deputy Mayor Jay Arnold, City of Kirkland
- Angela Becker-Dippmann, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
- Commissioner Sam Cho, Port of Seattle
- Garry Clark, Economic Alliance Snohomish County
- Shawn Collins, The Energy Project
- Bill Edmonds, Northwest Power and Planning Conservation Council
- Mayor Seth Fleetwood, City of Bellingham
- Neil Hartman, United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters
- Scott Hines, IBEW Local 77
- Nancy Hirsh, Northwest Energy Coalition
- Lynn Hubbard, Community member
- Marcus Kennedy, Pacific Ridge Homes, DR Horton
- Debra Lekanoff – Lekanoff, LLC.
- Dennis McLerran, Cascadia Law Group
- Ben Packard, University of Washington Earth Lab
- Sheila Remes, The Boeing Company
- Bennetta Robinson, American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations
- David Schaffert, Thurston County Chamber of Commerce
- Debra Smith, Seattle City Light
- Dennis Suarez, Washington Soldiers Home
PSE will target reducing its own carbon emissions to net zero and help enable other sectors toward carbon reduction across the state of Washington. PSE’s Beyond Net Zero Carbon goals include:
- Reducing emissions from PSE electric and gas operations and electric supply to net zero by 2030 and have 100% carbon-free electric supply by 2045;
- An aspirational goal of reaching net zero carbon emissions for natural gas sales by 2045;
- Partnering with customers and industry to identify programs and products that cost-effectively reduce carbon across sectors and across our region.
One year ago, PSE also convened a separate Equity Advisory Group (EAG) to advise on development of the company’s first Clean Energy Implementation Plan, delivering on the policies of Washington’s Clean Energy Transformation Act (CETA). The EAG is focused specifically on equity as PSE works to decarbonize its electric supply and ensure that its clean electricity transformation is affordable, accountable and accessible.
