Lawmaker wants hydropower recognized as renewal energy

By Michelle DuplerTri-City Herald

Rep. Larry Haler is hoping to lower energy prices in Washington by amending the state constitution.

Haler, R-Richland, has filed a piece of legislation called House Joint Resolution 4200 that would change the state constitution to recognize hydropower as a renewable energy resource.

It’s a response to voter-approved Initiative 937, passed in 2006 by just under 52 percent of the state’s voters.

The initiative requires utilities with at least 25,000 customers to buy at least 3 percent of their power from eligible renewable resources, such as wind and solar, and increase that to 9 percent in 2016 and 15 percent in 2020. Read more