County Exec convenes coalition to transition the region to renewable energy

Coal train on local rails
Photo by Bob Rinehart

King County Executive Dow Constantine brought together elected leaders from Washington and Oregon on Friday to discuss ways to accelerate the transition to renewable energy and establish the Pacific Northwest as a leader in the in clean-energy economy.

It was the latest meeting of the Safe Energy Leadership Alliance, a coalition of more than 160 elected city, county, state and Tribal leaders from the across the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia.

Members discussed the change in the federal landscape under the Trump administration and ways to update regulations in West Coast states to support renewable energy resources and infrastructure.

"One way we can protect our communities from the growing risks and impacts of oil and coal transport is to accelerate the transition to safe, renewable energy,” said Executive Constantine. 

“The shift to clean energy is going to happen whether the U.S. chooses to lead the change, or cede the field to others. Members of the Safe Energy Leadership Alliance are committed to making the Pacific Northwest a global leader in this transition."