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 Former U.S. EPA administrator and current America Is All In co-chair Gina McCarthy visited Seattle Wednesday and toured the Port of Seattle with Gov. Jay Inslee.
Electric drayage trucks zoom around the Port of Tacoma, transferring cargo from dockside to outgoing rail. Towering electric cranes at the Port of Everett lift oversize cargo from ships. And in the Port of Seattle yesterday, former U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrator and new co-chair of America Is All In Gina McCarthy previewed the port?s ambitious electrification plans. McCarthy is touring the country to highlight examples of the clean energy transition, which abound in Washington state.
America Is All In is a public-private coalition of 5,000+ climate leaders from across the country; McCarthy and Gov. Jay Inslee both serve as co-chairs. Together, the coalition is building momentum for a national clean energy revolution. For its part, Washington state is a climate action trailblazer. Northwestern ports model that leadership, and state and federal programs are helping them do more, faster, to improve their competitive standing and reduce pollution.
?Our economy needs two things to function well. One thing is commerce, and another is a healthy community,? said Inslee. ?Our ports are critical to our economy, but they also generate pollution. Our state, with help recently from Biden Administration, is fueling solutions to meet our economic and health needs. They can coexist, and we?re proving it.?
The state?s Climate Commitment Act includes funding for ports to expand their use of electric trucks, trains, and shore-power plugins across the region?s ports. The federal Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law are supercharging state efforts.
In her former capacity as White House climate advisor, McCarthy was central to the Biden Administration?s substantial climate action. She contributed to the passage of the IRA and the BIL, both of which made historic investments in clean energy and infrastructure across the country. The IRA alone is creating 900 new jobs in Washington state and investing over $5.3 billion into clean energy and infrastructure projects within the state. The ports of Seattle and Tacoma each received $12 million in IRA funds to build chargers for their growing fleets of electric trucks, for example. The BIL contributed another $17 million to speed up cargo handling throughout the Port of Seattle.
?The Biden Administration has taken on the challenge of climate change more seriously than I think any of us could have expected or imagined,? said McCarthy. ?The Inflation Reduction Act in particular represents the single biggest investment in clean energy and climate action in the history of our country? It means less harmful pollution and it means more jobs here in the state of Washington.?
 You know the drill. It?s Memorial Day weekend, one of the busiest travel times of the year. Highway traffic is dense. Ferry waits are longer. And there are popular events happening all over the state that will draw a crowd. The state Department of Transportation (WSDOT) has issued one of its famous ?Microsoft Paint maps? to highlight some of the weekend?s goings-on and travel advisories.
Follow WSDOT on social media and download their mobile app for real-time updates.
PACT Act benefits reach one million veterans exposed to toxics, including more than 22,500 in Washington state
President Joe Biden signed the bipartisan Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act into law in August 2022, intent to do right by veterans like SFC Robinson, who had been exposed to toxic chemicals during his military service and who later died from a rare form of lung cancer. Just under two years after the PACT Act was signed into law, one million claims have been approved for veterans receiving new service-connected disability benefits. That includes more than 22,500 in Washington state.
If you are a veteran, visit?http://www.va.gov/PACT or go to your local VA hospital to see if you are eligible for PACT Act benefits and services.
Biden Administration extends loan forgiveness to 160,000 additional borrowers
Teachers, nurses, police officers, and lower-income student loan borrowers got some very good news on Wednesday. The Biden Administration announced new student debt cancellations for 160,000 borrowers, in addition to the relief already extended to five million borrowers. The latest cancellations relieve 93,000 borrowers enrolled in income-driven repayment plans, and another 67,000 borrowers eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.
School?s out, but a new summer EBT program keeps kids fed
Millions of students nationwide are enrolled in free or reduced lunch programs during the school year, but the summer months can be difficult without this important food source. In 2022, the federal government authorized a new, permanent Summer EBT program called ?SUN Bucks? to offer food benefits while school?s out. SNAP, TANF, or FDPIR beneficiaries are automatically enrolled in SUN Bucks, and those not automatically enrolled may still apply. Each eligible child will receive a one-time payment of $120 in food benefits on a dedicated SUN Bucks card.
State ferries enters busy summer season with marked improvement, completing more than 99% of sailings
As the crewing situation improves at Washington State Ferries, the sailing cancellation rate has been cut in half over the past year. That?s good news for the hundreds of thousands of people that will take to the Salish Sea for the unofficial start of the busy summer travel season. State ferry ridership is expected to approach 350,000 over Memorial Day weekend, from Thursday, May 23, through Monday, May 27.
Travelers can download the WSDOT mobile app for service information, including rider alerts and a real-time map to track boats. WSF advises passengers make advance reservations, consider leaving the car behind, avoid peak times, and expect longer wait times.
Inslee directs regulators to reconsider wind farm proposal
Gov. Jay Inslee on Thursday directed the Energy Facility Siting and Evaluation Council to reconsider portions of its proposed certification for the Horse Heaven Wind Farm Project in Central Washington. In a letter, Inslee directed the council to consider mitigation efforts more narrowly tailored to the specific impacts associated with the proposal. By doing so, the wind farm would be able to achieve its full or near-full energy generation capacity to meet the state's critical need for green electricity.
"I strongly encourage the council to return to me their approval of this project application that appropriately prioritizes the state's pressing clean energy needs," Inslee wrote.
The governor has asked the council to respond within 90 days. After the council resubmits the draft site certification, incorporating any amendments based on its reconsideration, the governor must then either approve or reject the project.??
Washington ranks #2 for long-term care
AARP ranks Washington as a top state for long-term care services. A key factor in the ranking was Washington?s exceptional record for supporting independent living, or ?aging in place? at home. Washington offers extensive support to unpaid caregivers, boasts the only portable home care aide certificate in the country, and a first-in-the-nation long-term care insurance program, among other advantages for older adults or people with disabilities.
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