SEATTLE — A broad coalition of groups says it’s launching an initiative effort to tackle climate change in Washington.
The Alliance for Jobs and Clean Energy is announcing plans today to put an initiative before voters in November 2016.
The statewide ballot measure would cap greenhouse gas emissions and put a price on carbon pollution, though many other details have not yet decided.
OneAmerica’s Rich Stolz says the idea is to curb pollution while also raising money for jobs, clean energy and minority and low-income communities that are disproportionately harmed by carbon pollution. He says racial and social equity would be central to the measure.
A competing effort, Initiative 732, would tax carbon pollution. Organizers have collected 237,000 signatures of the 330,000 needed to put I-732 before the 2016 Legislature. If lawmakers don’t act, it would go on the 2016 ballot.
