Climate change accountability. Tune in now.

House Bill 2772 would “require state contractors to meet performance standards for cost per ton of dioxide equivalent.” What does that mean?

Rep. Bill Hinkle: “If you remember, when we were discussing some cap and trade issues … last year, my first comment was, We’re about to enter into a public policy issue that set goals” and standards that don’t accomplish what they set out to accomplish, he said. “I guess, in the end, I’m just trying to bring forward something that will actually give some accountability to the efforts that we’re making in the state.”

The bill would require that before any carbon reduction project is undertaken, the state make some calculations: First, how much would the project cost? Second, how many tons of CO2 would the project reduce? Third: What’s the cost per CO2 unit reduction.

“Then you can make decisions about where you want to put money in the future,” said Todd Myers with the Washington Policy Center. He said right now, “it’s very unclear to us whether we’re getting the return on the investment we’re making.”

Myers said his organization has found that some “green” schools haven’t saved school districts any money — in fact, they may be less energy efficient, he said.

To that, Rep. Hans Dunshee told his fellow lawmakers to “get real numbers” from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. He said, unlike the policy center, OSPI doesn’t have a bias.

Watch now on TVW. I’ll update as this hearing goes along.

Tags: climate change