Gregoire: Washington needs to ease its oil dependence

David Ammons
Seattle Times
15 September 2005

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Washington can become a world leader in biofuels and other non-petroleum energy sources that can ease reliance on foreign oil and help the state's farm economy at the same time, Gov. Christine Gregoire said Thursday.

The governor and legislative leaders also announced hearings on what they strongly suspect is gasoline price-gouging.

And Gregoire told a news conference that Washington is reasonably well prepared for an earthquake or other natural disaster, but needs to study ways of improving. The joint House-Senate hearings also will take up this topic. The sessions will be in October, with locations and times to be announced soon.

Gregoire said she has asked the U.S. Department of Justice to probe whether the oil industry gouged consumers during the recent run-up of prices, particularly after Hurricane Katrina.

Gregoire, who battled Enron's energy pricing when she was state attorney general, said there appears to be no legitimate reason for Washington pump prices to jump 20 cents a gallon in the aftermath of the hurricane.

Washington is remote from the Gulf Coast, relies on Alaskan crude oil and has refineries, she noted. The state Legislature may well want to pass anti-gouging legislation to protect against a recurrence, she said.

In the longer term, she said, the state should get serious about developing its potential for producing ethanol and other biofuels from Washington-grown grains.

"It improves our energy independence and keeps our petrodollars in Washington," the governor said. "It creates new jobs in the state, reduces pollution and reduces other environmental problems and risks, and it helps farmers maintain the profitability of their farms."

Dependence on oil is crippling Washington's farmers, she said.

"Our farmers are paying out more for a gallon of diesel fuel than they earn for a bushel of wheat. We may have the opportunity to plug our farmers right into the fuels they need. They could be producing the crops to make the fuel."

Gregoire said she has been talking with biofuel companies about setting up shop in Washington, primarily in the eastern part of the state. She gave no specifics.

State Rep. Hans Dunshee, D-Snohomish, said a biodiesel plant called the New Roosevelt Project is proposed for Spokane, Columbia or Lincoln county.

"We could have five million gallons of biodiesel coming on line next August or September," he told reporters. "I think we can get something done. It will mean jobs here in Washington and fuel in the tanks of Washingtonians. I think it's a great step forward."

The state motor pool and ferry system are early customers for biofuel, said state Rep. Jeff Morris, D-Anacortes. The Legislature has put in place one of the country's strongest tax incentive packages, he said.

"The Northwest stands a good chance of becoming a biofuel leader in the world," he said.

Gregoire agreed: "The idea that we could be an international leader is real."

Washington also is doing important work in solar energy, wind-generated power and other alternative sources of energy, she said.

At her wide-ranging news conference, the governor also touted the state's emergency preparedness, saying the state wouldn't have been caught as flat-footed as the Gulf region. The state has a clear chain of command and knows that state and local government, not the feds, will have to be the early responders during the first 72 hours after a disaster, she said.

Gregoire said Washington must fix its earthquake-vulnerable bridges and roads, especially the Alaskan Way viaduct in Seattle and the State Highway 520 bridge across Lake Washington. Both would have failed if the 2001 Nisqually Quake had lasted another 15 seconds, she said.

Drawing an analogy to Katrina, she said "These are our levies. The earthquake is our hurricane."

State Sen. Pam Roach, R-Auburn, faulted Gregoire for talking about biofuels and oil dependency rather than putting sole emphasis on state residents being prepared to survive a disaster.

"She should stick to talking about survival. She should be alerting our people about storing up food and water and flashlights, first-aid kits, being ready to leave damaged residences, completing a ham radio network for Washington state, and talking about how families can stay in communication with each other in a disaster.

"Katrina is not an opportunity to move forward an environmental or energy agenda."

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On the Net:

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