As Microsoft, Starbucks, and other Seattle-area giants announce layoffs, Democrats in the Washington state Senate have revealed a package of proposed laws aimed at boosting the number of green jobs in the state—by speeding up construction projects. (Sound familiar?)
The "Clean Energy, Green Jobs" legislation will funnel money from the anticipated federal stimulus package and the state’s construction budget into green building efforts. By 2030, older buildings would have to decrease their greenhouse-gas emissions and new buildings would be required to be emissions-free.
Aimed at "encouraging businesses to become more environmentally friendly," the legislation would also require state vehicles to meet 36 mpg standards, provide provisions for weatherizing low-income homes, and incorporate sales tax breaks for hybrid and electric vehicles.
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Tasermons Partner Posted 3:33 am
29 Jan 2009
The other provision are okay, but this one is a bit confusin' to me.
First off, 2030 is a bit late in the timeline. Existing buildings could reduce their energy consumption right away, no need to wait nearly 2 decades to do so.
I also wonder what they mean by "emissions-free". Obviously, any building that uses energy from an outside grid would produce GHG emissions (unless the state has plans for the entire grid to go 100% renewable by 2030...and I don't think it does).
And I doubt they'd require all buildings to produce their energy on-site (as great as that would be).
So how can new buildings be emission free?
Do they just mean from the construction process alone? In that case, I assume offsets would most likely be involved?
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