What We’re Reading: Editorial Board on Linkage & Clean Energy
In case you missed them: We wanted to bring two excellent recent editorials from the Seattle Times to your attention!
First up: “Iran war shows why WA should lean into all-electric future.” Gas prices are rising again, driven by global instability far beyond our local control. When a major share of the world’s oil supply can be disrupted by a single chokepoint, it shows how exposed the fuel and gas energy system still is.
Clean electricity can power our cars, homes, and businesses with far less volatility than oil. It’s not just cleaner, it’s also becoming the more practical choice. Batteries and modern electric technologies are already proving to be reliable, cost-effective solutions across the economy.
A clean energy economy is more stable, more predictable in cost, and better positioned for long-term growth.
Second: “In expanding cap-and-trade market, ‘subnational’ leadership matters.”
At our eighth annual Future of Carbon Policy Forum earlier this year, leaders from Washington, California, and Quebec discussed how linkage can strengthen markets and accelerate the clean energy transition through regional collaboration.
Washington’s move to link its cap-and-invest program with California and Quebec builds on a proven, cross-border model that expands the reach and effectiveness of carbon markets. A larger, connected market can reduce price volatility, lower compliance costs, and provide more predictability for businesses while maintaining strong incentives to cut emissions.
We appreciate the Editorial Board elevating subnational climate action and efforts to advance more affordable, stable, and cleaner forms of energy!
Renewables Beat Natural Gas on the U.S. Grid
Exciting Build Sustainable High Impact Infrastructure Together (Build SHIIT)-themed news: In March 2026, renewables beat natural gas on the U.S. grid for the first time ever!
From Canary Media: “It’s the first time renewables have bested the [sic] fossil fuel in the U.S. across an entire month, per data pulled from the think tank Ember. Meanwhile, emissions-free sources, a category that includes both renewables and nuclear, produced more than half of the nation’s electricity.”
As electricity demand rises, clean energy is taking a larger share. Solar and wind are driving most new capacity, cutting emissions, and helping meet rising demand.
Renewables are becoming the backbone of the grid!
Action: Support BESS in King County
We dedicated a recent newsletter to how batteries can supercharge the clean energy transition. We encourage you to give it a read if you haven’t yet! Here’s the long and short of it: Batteries are affordable, safe, and a technology we can deploy today to transition off of polluting and volatile fossil fuels.
Now, there’s an urgent action we all can take to ensure Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) remain viable in Washington state.
In 2024, the King County Council passed an ordinance that enables the thoughtful development of BESS in the county. Now, opponents of BESS are lobbying the King County Council to reconsider this ordinance and make changes that would dramatically restrict the development of this clean technology locally. Make no mistake: When we say “no” to clean energy like BESS, we say “yes” to more polluting, unhealthy energy sources like natural gas.
Here’s what you can do: Send a letter to the King County Council to urge them to retain their existing, effective BESS ordinance. You can complete this sign-on form to send a letter – it should take less than one minute!
Have questions or want to get more involved? Reach out to kelsey@cleanandprosperous.org.
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