Statement from Renewable Northwest on the President’s Executive Order on Climate Change, March 28, 2017

The President signed an Executive Order today that puts in motion the reversal of policies and programs that address the ominous advance of climate change. This Order moves our economy and our environment in the wrong direction.

Northwesterners care deeply about clean air, clean water, and healthy ecosystems. We want to continue to transition away from fossil fuels. The region’s utilities, policy-makers, and advocates have taken great strides to retire aging coal facilities and are working to deploy cleaner, homegrown replacement resources to meet our electricity needs. We should continue to build on that progress.

Renewable resources reduce price volatility and regulatory risk, and are already competing on price with traditional resources. Individuals, small businesses, and multinational corporations are increasingly demanding renewable energy. The clean energy sector, including energy efficiency, solar, wind, and geothermal resources, now employs thousands of people in the Northwest, improving both our environment and the economy. Substantial investments in renewable energy projects and manufacturing are helping provide economic vitality to urban and rural counties.

Continuing our transition to a clean energy future will help deliver on the issues the President highlights in his Order: domestic supply, jobs, energy security, and lower costs. Northwesterners support a clean energy future. We should continue to develop and implement forward-looking policies that support the economy, the environment, and our health, all while confronting climate change.