Economic accolades, I-5 Interstate Bridge, EV batteries, 8 million Washingtonians



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Washington earns accolades for jobs, EV adoption

U.S. News called Washington the second-best state to live and work [ [link removed] ]. It?s a top-five state for workers [ [link removed] ]. And the economic accolades keep tumbling in ? Washington was just ranked the best state in America for jobs [ [link removed] ]. Washington?s mighty economy is healthy for enterprise and is taking care of the workers doing the heavy lifting.

Washington workers earn among the nation?s very highest average salaries, and extensive worker benefits protected by law include paid leave, measures against sexual harassment and discrimination, and more. Washington state also recently adopted the highest minimum wage [ [link removed] ] in the nation, contributing to the nation?s fifth-lowest percentage of residents living in poverty.

Washington was also just acknowledged as the best state in America for electric vehicle miles traveled [ [link removed] ]. A nation-leading 18% proportion of new cars sold in the state during the first half of 2023 were all-electric. Beyond 2035 [ [link removed] ], all news cars sold in the state must be zero-emissions models. Transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Washington state, and electrification will slash this number over time so that future generations might breathe cleaner air.

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I-5 Interstate Bridge sorely needs replacement
Gov. Jay Inslee responds Wednesday to media questions about the I-5 Interstate Bridge and its proposed replacement.

Gov. Jay Inslee responds Wednesday to media questions about the I-5 Interstate Bridge and its proposed replacement.

The I-5 Interstate Bridge is a dinosaur. Some parts are more than a century old, and it rings up more than $1 million each year in maintenance and operation costs. The bridge is vulnerable to earthquake damage and has limited non-motorized access. Congestion slows traffic for ten hours each day, exacerbated by the bridge lifting for marine traffic 350 times each year. The bridge is in urgent need of replacement [ [link removed] ].

"The bridge wasn't built for today," says Meghan Hodges with the state Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Interstate Bridge Replacement Program. "It wasn't built for ten hours of congestion. It wasn't built for semis to haul hundreds of millions of dollars in freight value across each year."

Plans for a replacement bridge would improve cyclist and pedestrian access, transit efficiency, interstate commerce, commute times, and maritime activities.

The recent Bipartisan Infrastructure Law created a competitive National Infrastructure Project Assistance (MEGA) grant program to fund infrastructure projects across the country. In July, Inslee wrote federal Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg to support a joint MEGA grant application by the Oregon and Washington state departments of transportation. In August, the state's entire Congressional delegation co-signed a similar letter of support. Both states have their own skin in the game: each has committed $1 billion in state funding.

Inslee visited Vancouver Wednesday to reiterate the importance of the project and optimism about prospects for federal funding.

*Read more from KOIN6 [ [link removed] ]*

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Moses Lake at the heart of a clean tech boom
The new Sila Nanotechnologies facility in Moses Lake, Wash. will produce advanced silicon-anode batteries.

The new Sila Nanotechnologies facility in Moses Lake, Wash. will produce advanced silicon-anode batteries that extend EV range and shorten charging time.

Washington is at the forefront of the clean technology revolution. Gov. Jay Inslee traveled to Moses Lake on Wednesday to celebrate the groundbreaking of construction at Sila Nanotechnologies? factory. They?re expanding the building and plan to hire up to 500 Washingtonians to build next-generation battery technology for electric vehicles. Their proprietary silicon anode extends driving range significantly while slashing charge times.

?We should develop the electric car industry, because it is absolutely necessary to defeat climate change and also to build a base of industrial jobs,? Inslee said. ?This technology is exciting for humanity, for the United States and it?s super exciting for central Washington.?

Washington?s investments in workforce development and renewable energy are bringing innovative, sustainable companies to the state. Sila joins a large cohort of innovative technology companies in Moses Lake building the products necessary to phase out fossil fuels and power the clean energy economy.

After the groundbreaking ceremony, the governor met with the Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce and executives from Habitat for Humanity. They discussed how the state government can continue to support the region?s needs by ensuring electric transmission utilities and housing construction keep pace with this dynamic economic growth.

*Read more from?KREM2* [ [link removed] ]

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News you might have missed:

8 million Washingtonians

Washington is now home to eight million people, state officials estimate. That?s a population increase of two million people in 23 years. Washington will need to build 1.1 million housing units to keep pace with the growing population over the next 20 years.

WSDOT repairs 17 critical bridges

Washington?s Department of Transportation repaired or replaced nearly 7,000 square feet of damaged concrete on 17 bridges [ [link removed] ] in King, Snohomish, Skagit and Whatcom counties, providing a smoother ride for drivers and passengers.

Amtrak adds more daily trains between Seattle and Portland

Beginning Monday, Dec. 11, more Amtrak trains [ [link removed] ] will run on the Cascades route between Seattle and Portland. Twelve trains will run daily along the route.

Energy-efficient heating and cooling standards for new homes

This week, the Washington State Building Code Council voted to raise efficiency standards [ [link removed] ] for heating and air conditioning in new homes and buildings. New energy-efficient appliances that don?t rely on fossil fuels can slash monthly energy costs by hundreds of dollars, and reduce indoor air pollution.

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