Public News Service

The Washington State Department of Commerce expected to fund at least 6,500 rebates for EVs through June 2025 with its new program. (IanDewarPhotography/Adobe Stock)

Demand high for WA EV incentive program

Washingtonians want to drive electric vehicles and a new rebate program from the state is providing proof. Earlier this month, the Washington State …

A new transportation tool will help people find ride options in Seattle and surrounding areas. (IanDewarPhotography/Adobe Stock)

Fed grant supports transportation planning tool in WA

A grant from the federal government is helping improve transportation planning options in the Puget Sound region. The nonprofit Hopelink received a $…

The Sea Change, powered by hydrogen fuel cells, took its first trip on July 19. (Pacific Environment)

Revolutionary WA-built hydrogen ferry could jumpstart zero-emission vessels back home

A hydrogen-powered ferry built in Washington state is operating in San Francisco Bay. Clean energy advocates are hoping it spurs action closer to …

Kitsap Transit's new maintenance facility will mean buses will travel shorter distances for tune-ups. (Bluedisk/Wikimedia Commons)

$90 million in federal infrastructure funding headed to WA

Washington state is receiving nearly $90 million in federal infrastructure funding, from the Biden Administration. The funds were distributed by the …

Washington state aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 95% by 2050. (jordano/Adobe Stock)

Repeal of WA carbon cap program would have 'devastating effects'

Opponents of a new law to cap carbon in Washington state are waiting to see if their initiative to repeal it will appear before voters in November…

A public hearing on the rent stabilization bill was held in Olympia last week. (adonis_abril/Adobe Stock)

As housing crisis builds, rent stabilization measure before WA lawmakers

Housing is a major issue in this year's legislative session -- and for some, simply staying in their home is the goal. One measure in Olympia would …

In 2023, Washington state lawmakers introduced four bills regarding parking mandates - the requirement that developers include certain amounts of parking for their structures. (Eric BVD/Adobe Stock)

More States Consider Ending Parking Mandates

Parking lots dominate the landscapes in many cities, but state lawmakers across the country are cutting back on reserving room for these often …

The wildlife crossings over I-90 are considered crucial for creatures in the Cascades. (Washington State DOT/Flickr)

Resilient Wildlife Crossings Crucial as Climate Changes, Experts Say

Wildlife crossings could be a path to a future where the climate has significantly changed the planet. Wildlife and climate experts are urging …

A bill in the Washington Legislature would lift cities' restrictions on multifamily housing like triplexes, seen above. (Imagenet/Adobe Stock)

WA Lawmakers Look to Add Affordable Housing for 'Missing Middle'

Washingtonians are being squeezed out of the housing market, and some state lawmakers want to see significant changes to cities' zoning laws to …

Electric ranges have been shown to emit fewer toxic chemicals than gas stoves. (Di Studio/Adobe Stock)

Proposal Would Lower WA Residential Buildings' Carbon Footprint

Washington state is considering a cleaner future for its buildings. The Washington State Building Code Council is holding public hearings, including …

Washington state lawmakers passed a budget of about $64 billion over the next two years. (Arpad/Adobe Stock)

Looking Back at What WA Lawmakers Accomplished in 2022 Session

Lawmakers have wrapped up their short session in Olympia - another virtual affair due to the pandemic. The majority Democrats moved quickly to pass …

The City of College Place, Wash., has struggled with unreliable internet because of its rural location. (City of College Place)

Small Grants Help WA Communities with Big Ideas

Grant winners from last year are encouraging organizations and communities this year to apply for AARP's Community Challenge grant. Applications …

Companies are testing autonomous vehicles across 36 states, including Washington. (Lev Karavanov/Adobe Stock)

WA Bill Would Add Guardrails to Driverless Vehicle Testing

As more self-driving cars come online, some lawmakers in Olympia want to make sure they follow the rules of the road. House Bill 1731 would …

Gov. Jay Inslee has proposed higher building standards in the 2022 session to help decarbonize the sector. (Office of Gov. Inslee)

Advocates Want More Climate Action in 2022 WA Legislature

Washington state lawmakers meet in Olympia starting next week for the 2022 legislative session. Groups working on the issue of climate change see it …

Some Washington state lawmakers want to join other West Coast states by creating a clean-fuel standard. (scharfsinn86/Adobe Stock)

Supporters: Clean-Fuel Standard Necessary to Clean Up WA Emissions

OLYMPIA, Wash. - State lawmakers are attempting to clean up Washington's fuel sources yet again this session. Efforts in the past few years to pass …

Although it ranked sixth in the country among states, a new report gives Washington's electric-vehicle policies a score of 54 out of 100. (scharfsinn86/Adobe Stock)

Report: WA Could Speed Up Electric-Vehicle Rollout

SEATTLE - Washington state is on the right track for electrifying its transportation sector, but still has work to do, according to a new report…

Gas stoves release harmful pollutants that can increase the risk of asthma for children. (Ervins Strauhmanis/Flickr)

Major Carbon Sources, WA Measure Could Give Buildings Makeovers

OLYMPIA, Wash. - Washington's governor wants buildings to clean up their act. At the request of Gov. Jay Inslee, Evergreen State lawmakers are …

Climate action is sure to take many forms in the next Washington state legislative session, which begins on Jan. 11, 2021. (Reagan/Adobe Stock)

WA Climate-Action Groups Look Ahead to 2021 Prospects

OLYMPIA, Wash. - Climate action groups in Washington state are recognizing the role climate change played in the election, and they're looking ahead …

The Olympia-based group Garden-Raised Bounty or

WA Projects Receive AARP Grants to Make Communities More Livable

SPOKANE, Wash. -- AARP has awarded Community Challenge grants to four projects in Washington state. The grants go to projects that make communities …

The Washington State Department of Transportation has completed a wildlife crossing on I-90 near Snoqualmie Pass. (WSDOT/Flickr)

Congress Could Help Wildlife Cross Treacherous Highways

SEATTLE -- The perils of traffic aren't just a human concern. Wildlife advocates say animals need highway crossings to survive. Mitch Friedman's …

Car emissions contribute to bad air days, especially during summer months. (elcovalana/Adobe Stock)

WA Bill Would Hold Fossil Fuel Industry Accountable for Pollution

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- In the final week of the legislative session, Washington state lawmakers are considering expanding the Clean Air Act to regulate …

Pedestrian deaths in Washington state have doubled over the past decade. (Richard Erikkson/Flickr)

WA Group: Stop Focusing on Transportation Mega-Projects, Think Locally

SEATTLE -- Instead of expanding highways, Washington state leaders should focus on local challenges to transportation, one group says. Feet First…

Transportation accounts for more than 40% of Washington state's carbon emissions. (Oran Viriyincy/Flickr)

Puget Sound Proposes Aggressive Fuel Standard to Reduce Emissions

SEATTLE – The Puget Sound region is striking out on its own with a bold proposal for a clean fuel standard. The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency …

The Pike Market Food Bank was selected for the AARP Community Challenge and will provide more directional signage with the grant. (Kirt Edblom/Flickr)

WA Projects Selected for AARP Livability Grants

SEATTLE — Grants from the AARP Community Challenge are small but can go a long way toward making cities more livable for people of all ages…

The darker shades on the map represent the highest shaking hazard and the black lines represent potentially active faults in Washington. (Washington state Department of Natural Resources)

Study: Many WA Schools Face Big Risks from Earthquakes

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Ground-shaking new research finds many Washington state public schools are at high risk of serious damage in an earthquake…

A project in north Seattle has been awarded a grant to make neighborhoods safer and more pedestrian-friendly. (Spotmatik/iStock)

Wash. Projects Receive Grants to Make Communities More Livable

PORT ORCHARD, Wash. – Two projects in Washington state have been selected for the 2018 AARP Community Challenge grant program. The Community …

The Trump administration is proposing freezing fuel efficiency standards at 35 mpg for the next six years. The public has 60 days to comment. (Jeff Wilcox/Flickr)

Trump's EPA Throws Fuel-Efficiency Standards to Scrapheap

KIRKLAND, Wash. – The Trump administration is halting the push for higher fuel-efficiency standards for cars - standards aimed at reducing a …

Seattle's preference for single-family homes leads to more driving and more cars. (Joe Wolf/Flickr)

Add a Basement Apartment to Your Home, Fight Climate Change?

SEATTLE — For most cities in Washington state, cars are the number one source of greenhouse gas emissions. Could a change to the state's zoning …

The Washington state Legislature set a cap of 7,500 cars in an incentive program that provides tax breaks to electric-vehicle purchasers. (desteniev/Twenty20)

In the Market for an Electric Car? Time Running Out on Wash. Tax Break

OLYMPIA, Wash. - Washingtonians in the market for an electric car are running out of time to capitalize on a tax-break incentive for those vehicles…

Last year, a Community Challenge grant funded a Seattle hackathon to develop an app aimed at making the city more livable for aging residents. (Seattle.gov)

Grant Program Open to Help Communities Become Age-Friendly

SEATTLE – A grant program is looking for project submissions to help make cities and towns in Washington state and nationwide friendlier to peop…

Drivers for ride-sharing companies such as Uber and Lyft are hitting traffic when they push for more protections, a new report finds. (SounderBruce/Flickr)

Report: Local Democracy "Run Over" by Lyft, Uber

SEATTLE — Ride-sharing companies such as Uber and Lyft have been a big boon for folks trying to get around town, but a new report says these …

Gov. Jay Inslee has rejected an oil terminal that would have sent 360,000 barrels of oil a day through the Columbia River Gorge. (Kat Holmes/Washington Environmental Council)

Inslee Rejects Largest Oil Terminal Proposal in North America

VANCOUVER, Wash. – Gov. Jay Inslee has delivered the final blow in the long battle over a proposed oil terminal in Vancouver. On Monday…

The Millennium Bulk Terminal that was slated to be built in Longview would have shipped up to 44 million tons of coal a year to Asia. (Sam Beebe/Flickr)

Has State Delivered Final Nail to Coffin of WA Coal Terminal?

LONGVIEW, Wash. - A proposal for what would be the largest coal-export terminal in North America might have sunk on Tuesday. A coalition of …

Electric cars are catching on in Washington, and motorists now have a scenic byway dotted with charging stations. (Wash. State House Republicans/Flickr)

WA Opens Nation's First Scenic Byway for Electric Car Owners

WENATCHEE, Wash. – This summer, electric car owners will have the chance to explore the Evergreen State's "electric highway." Stretching from …

Utility company Avista is working with Spokane-area universities to develop more efficient electric grids. (Washington State University)

Wash. Utilities Pitch In as State Transitions to Clean Energy

SPOKANE, Wash. -- Two utility companies in Washington have been awarded $3.5 million each from the state's Clean Energy Fund for research into making …

Self-driving cars still are in their testing phase but one day could improve the lives of people with disabilities. (Don DeBold/Flickr)

Report: Self-Driving Cars Could Improve Lives of People with Disabilities

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Washington state lawmakers are in the beginning stages of developing regulations for self-driving cars, but they're already being …

The Urban Freight Lab is exploring the ways cities can more efficiently deliver e-commerce. (Arvell Dorsey Jr./Flickr)

Online Shopping Could Change the Way Cities Operate

SEATTLE -- There's been a massive amount of consumer spending over the holidays this year, but it's likely that online shopping is the source of the …

Washington state is looking to learn from other states how to develop community solar projects. (naturalflow/Flickr)

Washington Looks to Communities in Renewable-Energy Push

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Washington state's step toward a clean-energy future in the new year will involve more communities generating their own …

Researchers at a Washington state lab say the amount of sewage treated in the United States each year could yield 30 million barrels of oil. (Water Environment & Reuse Foundation)

What Americans Flush Could End Up in Their Fuel Tanks

RICHLAND, Wash. - Research at a Washington state lab is proving not everything flushed down the toilet is waste. Scientists at Pacific Northwest …

Warmer winters in the Northwest due to climate change could mean more damage from species such as pine beetle. (Don Becker/U.S. Geological Survey)

Study: Humans Might Need to "Assist Evolution" as Climate Change Worsens

SEATTLE – Many of the effects of climate change scientists did not expect to happen for decades into the future are happening now. According to …

Researchers and others believe breaching the four Lower Snake River dams could give Puget Sound orcas more fish to feed on. (Seabamirum/Flickr)

Could Breaching Lower Snake River Dams Help Orcas?

SPOKANE, Wash. – As the public weighs in today in Spokane on the future of the Lower Snake River dams, researchers are calling for their …

BNSF is on trial over transport of coal on its railways in Washington state. (Matthew Nichols/Flickr)

WA Coal Train Trial Could Have National Implications

SEATTLE - Environmental groups say railway company BNSF is allowing coal to fall off uncovered coal trains and into Washington's waterways, and this …

The Lower Monumental Dam, above, is one of four dams that groups want removed in order to improve fish habitats on the Snake River. (Bonneville Power Admin./Flickr)

Flotilla on Saturday Calls for Removal of Four Wash. Dams

CLARKSTON, Wash. - Participants in Saturday's "Free the Snake" flotilla say the best way to liberate the lower Snake River and help the fish swimming …

U.S. aircraft are responsible for almost 30 percent of greenhouse gas emissions from all aircraft globally, according to the EPA. (Ulrika/Flickr)

EPA: Planes are Major Contributor to Global Warming

SEATTLE — Greenhouse gas emissions from aircraft engines endanger public health and welfare, according to new findings from the federal …

Top Tier gasoline keeps engines 19 times cleaner than non-Top Tier gas, according to a new study. (Airman 1st Class Andrew Lee/Wikimedia Commons)

The Right Gasoline Could Be Key to a Long-Running Car

SEATTLE – Choosing the right gasoline could keep your engine cleaner and your car running longer, according to a new study from the American …

At full strength, a proposed coal-export terminal in Longview would ship 44 million tons of coal overseas each year. (Sam Beebe/Ecotrust)

Public Hearing in Pasco on Massive Coal-Export Terminal

PASCO, Wash. – Supporters and opponents are gathering in Pasco today for the final public hearing on a massive coal-export terminal in Longview…

Google's self-driving cars, like the one above, have logged more than 1.5 million miles of autonomous driving.(Grendelkhan/Wikimedia Commons)

Driverless Cars Come to Washington

SEATTLE - Ready or not, here they come. Driverless cars have made their way to the state of Washington. Google is testing its fleet of driverless …

A big crowd turned out Jan. 5 for the hearing on the Tesoro-Savage oil-shipping terminal. (Maddie Foutch)

WA Oil-Shipping Terminals: One Off the Table, More Still in Play

SEATTLE - The year is only a week old, and it's already a big one for opponents of the oil-shipping terminals proposed in the state. They're …

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WA: Urban Planning and Transportation