Notes from Aug 5 meeting

In brief

• The major decision at this meeting was to file a "test" initiative shortly before or after the end of the month. We are actively seeking ideas and/or (less important) legislative language to include in the filing.
• During the coming month we will also continue working on the website, PPT, one-pager, etc., with a goal of being ready to do presentations in the fall.
  
• The next downtown meeting is Tuesday Sept 2, 12-1pm and on the first Tuesday of later months (Sept 2, Oct 7, Nov 4, Dec 2).

In length

• In attendance (as private citizens unless otherwise noted): Catherine, Phoebe, Aaron, Christy, Yoram, Laura.
• We will not attempt to gather signatures for the test initiative---the point is to get the Code Reviser's Office to help us with legalese, constitutional issues, see what kind of ballot title the Secretary of State writes &etc. (All that for the discount price of... $5!) Details in this Guide.
  
• Christy is looking at clean energy R&D, Aaron is looking at energy efficiency ideas, Todd is looking at investment tax credits, and Yoram is working on some flowery legislative intent language and the carbon tax component. The big gap is that we currently have 15% of revenue set aside for offsetting impacts of low-income groups, and we desperately need ideas about what to do with this money, preferably from WA State Budget & Policy Center (here are their WCI comments) or Economic Opportunity Institute. So far all I know is that BP&C and Senator Craig Pridemore are both opposed to using the money to fund the Working Families Credit.
• We've made decent progress since last time on the website and PPT. Yoram will revise the PPT, Catherine and Christy et al. will continue working on the website. Phoebe is working on a one-pager.
  
• Aaron agreed to contact Sen Maralyn Chase to get her thoughts. Yoram will continue corresponding with Sen Pridemore and try again to reach Sen Oemig. Aaron and Christy are working on getting a speaking gig lined up with a renewable energy group.
  
• Western Climate Initiative update: The WCI is a group of states and provinces (WA, OR, CA, AZ, NM, UT, MT, BC, ONT, etc.) working on a regional cap-and-trade system with a goal of reducing covered emissions to 15% below 2005 levels by 2020, which works out to be about the same as getting back to 1990 levels by 2020. (Details.) The cap-and-trade will have a two-stage roll-out, with point sources (electricity generation and large facilities) starting in 2013 and non-point sources (gasoline and diesel--jet fuel does not appear to be covered) joining in 2016. (Details.) How many permits each state gets and what (if any) limits apply to how each state auctions or distribute its permits are both still to be determined, as is how to integrate the WCI cap-and-trade with BC's carbon tax. Whatever happens, BC's carbon tax is a great precedent for our effort, both by itself and in the context of WCI.
• Go team!