Environment, Energy & Technology

May 05, 2021

Governor signs Hawkins’ utility wildfire bill

A proposal introduced by 12th District Sen. Brad Hawkins to implement recommendations of a key electric utilities wildfire group has been signed into law this week by Gov. Jay Inslee. The legislation, Senate Bill 5158, directs state Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz to work with the Utility Wildland Fire...
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May 03, 2021

Governor signs Hawkins bill promoting hydrogen vehicles

Sen. Brad Hawkins’ bill to promote hydrogen-powered vehicles is now a state law. Gov. Jay Inslee today signed Senate Bill 5000, which establishes an eight-year statewide pilot project for the reduction of sales tax on purchases of fuel-cell electric vehicles. The Senate passed the bill 49-0 in March and the...
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April 10, 2021

Legislature approves Hawkins bill promoting hydrogen vehicles

Sen. Brad Hawkins’ bill to promote hydrogen-powered vehicles has been approved by the Legislature. The House of Representatives today voted 93-4 to approve Senate Bill 5000, which would establish an eight-year statewide pilot project for the reduction of sales tax on purchases of fuel-cell electric vehicles. The Senate last month...
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March 03, 2021

Senate unanimously passes Hawkins bill to promote hydrogen-powered vehicles

Sen. Brad Hawkins’ bill to promote hydrogen-powered vehicles has cleared a major hurdle. The Senate today voted 49-0 to approve Senate Bill 5000, which would establish an eight-year statewide pilot project for the reduction of sales tax on purchases of fuel-cell electric vehicles. “I’m pleased to see such strong support...
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February 26, 2021

Senate unanimously approves Hawkins’ utility wildfire bill

Legislation introduced by 12th District Sen. Brad Hawkins to implement recommendations by the Electric Utilities Wildland Fire Prevention Task Force on ways to prevent wildfires was approved today 46-0 by the Senate. Senate Bill 5158 would direct state Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz to work with the Utility Wildland...
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February 15, 2021

Ways and Means Committee passes Hawkins’ bill to implement utility-wildfire group’s recommendations

Another hurdle has been cleared for legislation sponsored by 12th District Sen. Brad Hawkins to implement recommendations by the Electric Utilities Wildland Fire Prevention Task Force on ways to prevent wildfires. Senate Bill 5158 was approved late today by the Senate Ways and Means Committee. The proposal now goes to...
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February 11, 2021

Transportation Committee passes Hawkins bill to promote hydrogen-powered vehicles

Sen. Brad Hawkins’ bill to promote hydrogen-powered vehicles has taken a step closer to a full Senate vote this session. The Senate Transportation Committee on Thursday unanimously approved Senate Bill 5000, which would establish an eight-year statewide pilot project for the reduction of sales tax on purchases of fuel-cell electric...
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January 21, 2021

Committee passes Hawkins bill to promote hydrogen-powered vehicles

Sen. Brad Hawkins’ proposal to promote hydrogen-powered vehicles, the first Senate bill of the 2021 legislative session, is now also among the first measures to be approved by a Senate committee. The Senate Environment, Energy and Technology Committee on Thursday approved Senate Bill 5000, which would establish an eight-year statewide...
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January 15, 2021

Hawkins partners with Chelan PUD and Department of Natural Resources to implement key task force’s recommendations

Two years ago, the Legislature created the Electric Utilities Wildland Fire Prevention Task Force that focused on ways to prevent wildfires. This critical work included an effort to begin drafting model agreements to remove dangerous trees, developing communications protocols, and considering investigation recommendations. Now that the task force recently released...
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