Fixing energy policy a focus for Ybarra in 2025 session

OLYMPIA — The Washington Legislative session began las Monday with many lawmakers, including State Representative Alex Ybarra, R-Quincy, unsure of what to expect. Ybarra has served the 13th district since 2019 and is trying to move his legislative priorities forward amid a new administration and a significant $10-$16 billion budget shortfall.  

According to Ybarra, energy issues are at the forefront of his agenda. His goal is to clean up current energy transformation bills to reduce government spending and to advocate for increased access of renewable energy for Grant County.  

“We have (the Clean Energy Transformation Act), cap and trade programs and Energy Independence Act that are a little redundant to some extent,” Ybarra said.  

The Clean Energy Transformation Act, or CETA, passed in 2019 and builds upon the energy efficiency standards of the Energy Independence Act by requiring all electric utilities to provide carbon-neutral electricity by 2030, with the goal of transitioning to 100% clean energy by 2045. The cap-and-trade program, established under the Climate Commitment Act, requires companies to purchase allowances for their emissions yet the Department of Ecology already grants electric utilities free allowances that count for the overall cap.  

The CCA is a major point of concern for Republicans because they feel the program does not directly reduce emissions since utilities are not required to pay for them and companies, specifically oil companies, purchase carbon allowances on the market and pass the costs on to Washington residents through higher vehicle fuel prices.  

In Grant County current distribution systems are insufficient to meet energy demands, especially as new battery manufacturers such as Sila and Group14 Technologies require high watts that cannot be cleanly sourced, Ybarra said. According to the Washington State Department of Commerce, as of 2023, the Grant Public Utility District uses 84% of energy from natural gas while the Clean Energy Transformation Act requires only 20% use from 2030 to 2045.  

Ybarra is the main sponsor of HB 1253, proposed Thursday to the Environment and Energy Committee. The bill aims to allow public utilities to work with private entities to develop renewable energy facilities and transmission. If passed, the bill would expand the kind of use agreements public utility districts can engage in, enabling them to own, finance, acquire, build and operate any kind of electric generating or transmission facilities, lessening dependence on the Priest Rapids and Wanapum dams locally and increase renewable energy sources.  

“We are trying to bring more energy to Grant County. We want to work with anyone who can help us do that,” Ybarra said.  

In addition to energy issues, Ybarra also plans to create more opportunities to make family-wage jobs. He’s been working on increasing apprenticeship programs across the state by increasing access at the high school level.  

Many enter apprenticeship programs in their mid-20s earning initially-low wages until they finish at age 30 or 31, Ybarra said. By providing earlier access to those training programs, tradespeople would access higher wages at an earlier age. 

Ybarra expressed optimism despite the uncertainty over the budget deficit. He shares feeling positive after Democratic Gov. Bob Ferguson’s inaugural speech on Jan. 15 that distinguished his tax approach from former Gov. Jay Inslee.  

“It’s just talk and it’s just a speech, but we’ll find out…” Ybarra said. “But to the (Washington legislative) members of District 13, it was much more positive than they thought it might be.”