Carbon markets, affordable insurance, trade mission abroad, Hanford Site



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Pricing pollution: WA in talks to join its carbon market with California and Quebec

At least 73 regions and subnational governments around the world have put a price on carbon, according to World Bank figures [ [link removed] ]. At least in these places, must account for the costs of their pollution. Washington state instituted a cap-and-invest market under the 2019 Climate Commitment Act, and now plans to begin discussions about linking that market [ [link removed] ] to the larger one shared between California and Quebec, Canada.

According to state analysts, connecting Washington?s cap-and-invest system to a larger market could create a stronger, more durable system with significant benefits for the state. A linked market would reduce compliance costs for businesses and increase price stability. Funds raised at auction are funding free transit for youth [ [link removed] ], air quality improvement efforts [ [link removed] ], public transportation [ [link removed] ], and more.

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Gov. Jay Inslee chats with Quebec Environment Minister Benoit Charette in May.

Gov. Jay Inslee chats with Quebec Environment Minister Benoit Charette in May. Quebec opened a carbon market in 2013, and linked it with California?s the following year.

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Affordable coverage awaits ? enrollment is open at WAHealthplanfinder
To shop plans, visit wahealthplanfinder.org or call 1 (855) 923-4633 from 7:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

To shop plans, visit wahealthplanfinder.org or call 1 (855) 923-4633 from 7:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Open enrollment has begun: Washingtonians may shop among 82 health care plans and 12 dental plans [ [link removed] ]. Affordable insurance for you and your family is just a few clicks or a call away.

In 2019, Washington became the first state to offer a public option for health insurance. Washingtonians who make up to 250% of the federal poverty level may qualify for Cascade Select plans. They are now available in 37 of the 39 counties [ [link removed] ] in the state, and they are the cheapest available plans in 31 counties. Signups tripled last year [ [link removed] ] as 27,000 Washingtonians purchased Cascade Select coverage.

In addition to subsidized plans for low-income families, Washington Healthplanfinder offers affordable plans to families of all incomes. More than 200,000 Washingtonians enjoy coverage through the marketplace.

This spring, the federal government tightened Medicaid eligibility standards broadened during the pandemic. Many Washingtonians may have had a change of income, marital status, household size, or address since that time. State officials urge people to report changes if they want to ensure continued eligibility and coverage. [ [link removed] ]

For Washingtonians no longer covered by Apple Health (Medicaid) or employer plans, Washington Healthplanfinder offers many affordable options. New this year is coverage for undocumented [ [link removed] ] immigrants through Cascade Care Savings plans. For more information, visit [link removed] [ [link removed] ] or call 1 (855) 923-4633 from 7:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

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Inslee leads trade mission ?Down Under?
Former Australian Ambassador to the United States Arthur Sinodinos visited Gov. Jay Inslee in Olympia in February.

Former Australian Ambassador to the United States Arthur Sinodinos visited Gov. Jay Inslee in Olympia in February.

Nearly 20,000 nautical miles distant, Washington state and Australia have closer ties than you might think. This week, Gov. Jay Inslee is leading a trade mission to the island continent to tighten those bonds and advance a mutual goal to graduate from fossil fuels.

The state exported over $750 million in goods to Australia last year including aircraft and parts, building products, medical equipment, and more. Beyond nurturing new business, the governor hopes to forge new allegiances to fight climate change.

?Australia, as a nation and in its states, has made incredible advances in climate policy and clean energy adoption in recent years, just like Washington,? said Inslee.

The governor will meet senior Australian officials, tour research institutions, shake hands with business leaders, and participate in a global wind energy conference. Having recently launched a new offshore wind supply chain initiative [ [link removed] ] and having been selected as a federal Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub [ [link removed] ], Washington has exciting news that may attract foreign investment and innovation to the state.

The state delegation is also eager to learn from their Australian counterparts. Rooftop solar is poised to become Australia?s largest power source [ [link removed] ]. Renewable sources power nearly 39% of the nation?s needs [ [link removed] ], or about twice the American percentage. They are planning for hydrogen vehicle refueling infrastructure [ [link removed] ]. And last year, the Australian government blocked construction [ [link removed] ] of a proposed open-cut coal mine that would have imperiled the Great Barrier Reef. Australia is answering the climate crisis by cultivating clean technology.

Washington state and Australia might be a world apart, but it?s a small world after all. Together, the two parties are working to save it.

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News you might have missed:

Apple crop rebounds

Poor weather dampened last year?s harvest. Good weather bore fruit this year [ [link removed] ]. Washington farmers collected 134 million boxes of apples this year, a 5% jump from the six-year average and a 29% leap from last year?s disappointing figure.

?We?re back to more of the normal range, which is good news for our growers and anyone who likes to eat apples,? said Jon DeVaney, president of the Washington State Tree Fruit Association.

New rule proposed to decrease landfill methane emissions

Decomposing food and yard waste at landfills emits harmful gases. Methane is particularly destructive. On Monday, the state Department of Ecology announced rules [ [link removed] ] for municipal solid waste landfills to require the capture and control of these gases. The state is making $15 million in grants available to help with costs associated with compliance. Funding is supported by the state?s Climate Commitment Act.

State receives funding to support 1,500 AmeriCorps members

The federal government awarded Serve Washington [ [link removed] ], the state commission on national and community service, more than $24 million to support 1,502 AmeriCorps members across the state. College Possible in King County, the Port Angeles School District in Clallam County, ?the United Way in Benton County, and the Imagine Justice Project in Pierce County are among the long list of community organizations powered by AmeriCorps members who will benefit from this funding.

Hanford vitrification plant pours glass

Engineers at the Hanford Site in Benton County have hit another important milestone [ [link removed] ] as they test a process to safely dispose of radioactive waste. They have successfully melted test material and poured the molten mix into a waste container. The achievement is the most recent in a string of encouraging developments at the site. ?Cold commissioning,? or processing of simulated waste, will begin in 2024. In 2025, the facility will begin to process the millions of gallons of radioactive and chemical waste stored at the Hanford Site.

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Engineers observe as molten glass is poured inside the Hanford Site.

Engineers observe as molten glass is poured for the first time inside the Low-Activity Waste Facility at the Hanford Site, where radioactive material will begin to be processed in 2025. (Courtesy of U.S. Department of Energy)

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