Data centers are a growing issue with direct impacts on our energy bills, our water, and all Washington communities. We have an opportunity to hold data centers to a higher standard in our state — we can protect and further our state’s climate and clean energy laws and goals; protect ratepayers from financial impacts; maintain grid reliability; minimize impacts to communities and natural resources including air, water, and salmon; and maximize benefits to communities.
The state remains in a budget shortfall, which puts climate and environmental programs at risk. For the 2027–2029 budget, this priority will push the legislature to: (1) follow through on a commitment to pay back $539 million in Climate Commitment Act funding diverted in the 2026 supplemental budget, (2) prioritize climate spending on pollution reduction and meeting state standards, (3) protect essential programs and funding sources communities depend on, and (4) restore base spending in the capital budget to natural resources and the environment.
Beverage containers, a large component of our state’s waste, litter Washington’s freeways, waterways, and public spaces. Only 30% of beverage containers are currently recycled in the state. That means a large amount of valuable materials are going to the landfill! The Recycling Refund Act will reduce litter and increase recycling rates in Washington by incentivizing recycling and pulling beverage containers into a clean recycling stream separated from other materials. Consumers would pay a 10-cent deposit on most beverage containers and be refunded that 10 cents when they bring containers to convenient drop-off locations to be recycled or reused.
Washington’s landmark Safer Products Law protects the health of people and the environment by restricting toxic chemicals in everyday products. It tackles PFAS, phthalates, bisphenols, and other harmful chemicals, but gaps in the law stop important health protections from being adopted. This legislation would build on the program’s successes by requiring greater transparency about chemicals in products, removing barriers to protecting the public from harmful chemicals, and establishing fees on manufacturers that use high-priority chemicals to fund prevention and implementation.
Want to stay up to date on policy in progress? WCA helps develop the Environmental Community Hot List for the State House and Senate—the 10 most important environmental bills being debated that week.
