OLYMPIA… In a press release dated May 23, Governor Inslee made a significant decision. He rejected a recommendation from the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council to require the Horse Heaven Wind Farm to mitigate the proposed power plant’s impacts on the endangered ferruginous hawk. This decision, according to Senator Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick,...

A pair of bills that will make energy more expensive in Washington were signed into law. House Bill 1589 allows Puget Sound Energy to end natural gas services for its customers. While this will directly affect our neighbors to the west, it represents a concerning trend toward eliminating an important...

Sen Matt Boehnke on KONA Radio talking about his legislation that would make trespassing on a school bus a felony, the initiatives to the legislature, a measure that would triple the allowable property tax growth rate, and more. #waleg LISTEN HERE

As Washington stands at a pivotal moment in shaping its energy future, it becomes increasingly clear that adopting sensible, forward-thinking solutions is crucial for a reliable, cost-effective, and environmentally sound power grid. It’s time for our state to embrace energy policies that genuinely prioritize the well-being of its residents. The...

SRC On Air: Sen. Matt Boehnke on KONA Radio’s The Bottom Line talking about artificial intelligence and wind turbine permitting as it relates to fighting wildfires from the air. #waleg LISTEN: https://ow.ly/bUYI50QqcWp  

Washington State Senator Matt Boehnke visited North Carolina as a participant in the Nuclear Legislative Working Group (NLWG) at the National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL) in early December. The mission of NCSL’s Nuclear Legislative Working Group (NLWG) is to provide legislative members with the opportunity to learn about the...

BY BENJAMIN FREED | State Scoop Washington Gov. Jay Inslee last week signed a bill that will add several new layers of governance to the state’s cybersecurity practices, including new advisory boards and giving the state’s Department of Commerce greater authorities over infrastructure security. …“This new law is about starting the...

Measure would streamline utility reporting, save money for ratepayers On Tuesday, the Senate Environment, Energy and Technology Committee held a public hearing on Sen. Matt Boehnke’s legislation aimed at modernizing Washington’s Energy Independence Act to avoid regulatory duplication and overlap with other laws. Boehnke, R-Kennewick, is a member of the...

In the News: By Wendy Culverwell | Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business Gov. Jay Inslee will seek $10 million in 2023 to establish the Institute for Northwest Energy Futures at Washington State University Tri-Cities. The move fulfills the dream of the late Bob Ferguson, an influential U.S. Department of Energy...

Due to election-year restrictions that begin on Monday, this will be my last email update to you until after the November election results are certified. The exception is if we go into a special session. However, I am still able to respond to constituents who contact me throughout the year,...