Washington state's initiative 937 and the environment: the emerging impact of grassroots movements on national policy.

• Author: Trumble, Paul D.
• Position: Perspectives: Ballot Initiatives and Referenda

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. (1)

--Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968)

Constitutional law, seemingly dormant in the recent past, has reemerged as ballot initiatives and referendums begin to drive national policy change. Ballot initiatives have long served as a mechanism for popular state action when the controlling government fails to address pressing concerns, addresses concerns at a gradual rate that renders any action ultimately ineffective, or enacts legislation that simply fails to adequately address popular concerns. With respect to environmental reform, the latter scenario seemingly persisted in Washington. As indicated by a 2006 initiative, Washingtonians believed environmental reform was an issue worthy of more comprehensive legislation aimed specifically at combating the causes of global warming. More importantly, however, Washington's environmental initiative indicates that grassroots movements are becoming an important tool, as indicated by increased proposals before Congress, for promoting national policy change.

Washington is no stranger to leading the American charge towards environmental reform. In 2005, Washington passed renewable energy legislation that remains arguably more progressive than that existing anywhere else in the United States. The legislation, modeled after Germany's highly successful renewably energy efforts, (2) consisted of two bills. The first bill focused on driving the demand for renewable energy products by offering tax credit incentives to users of solar panels and wind power systems. (3) The second bill focused on driving the supply of renewable energy products by offering tax breaks to Washington companies producing renewable energy products. (4) Despite the highly progressive nature of Washington's renewable energy legislation, Washingtonians deemed global warming a serious problem worthy of increased legislative attention.

In November 2006, Washington passed an initiative intended to increase the use of renewable energy--Initiative 937. (5) The Initiative required the increased use of renewable energy by the state's leading electric utilities companies. (6) More specifically, the utilities companies must supply at least fifteen percent of their electricity from renewable energy sources. (7) Although the Initiative's primary purpose is to reduce global warming caused by the burning of coal and natural gas, the Initiative also boasts substantial...