Read first time 01/12/09.   Referred to Committee on Natural Resources, Ocean & Recreation.

     TO THE HONORABLE BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED, AND TO THE SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR:
     We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:
     WHEREAS, In 2006 the voters passed Initiative No. 937, which set targets for energy conservation and the use of eligible renewable resources, including wind, by the state's large utilities; and
     WHEREAS, In 2007 the Legislature adopted the goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, reducing emissions to 25 percent below 1990 levels by 2035, and reducing emissions to 50 percent below 1990 levels by 2050; and
     WHEREAS, During this time of economic uncertainty, the construction and operation of wind and other alternative energy sites presents an opportunity to bring new jobs and valuable economic opportunities to Washington communities; and
     WHEREAS, The increased use of wind and other alternative energy resources produced in Washington will help move the state towards energy independence, and help to decrease the billions of dollars Washingtonians currently pay each year for imported fuel; and
     WHEREAS, The federal endangered species act (16 U.S.C. Sec. 1531 et seq.) can pose significant challenges, including regulatory uncertainty, for those seeking to develop wind and other alternative energy projects in locations that could potentially impact any wildlife listed as threatened or endangered; and
     WHEREAS, The United States Fish and Wildlife Service, housed within the United States Department of the Interior, is the agency with primary responsibility for implementing and enforcing the federal endangered species act;
     NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that the United States Fish and Wildlife Service work cooperatively with the state's regulatory agencies and energy producers to resolve these federal endangered species act issues in a manner that allows the continued development of Washington's wind and other alternative energy resources while at the same time protecting threatened and endangered wildlife.
     BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable Barack Obama, President of the United States, the Secretary of the Department of the Interior, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington.