Puget Sound Energy is announcing a 50% reduction in their carbon footprint by 2040 as a big deal. It’s not, and they need to do more.

The touted 50% carbon reduction is already dialed into PSE closure of coal plants, which are legally mandated to close. They can achieve 70% reduction in carbon just by closing all four of their coal plants in Montana – which you can request by going to sc.org/DearUTC.

PSE commitments to “investing in the development of cleaner alternatives to diesel … to ensure buses, ships, ferries and trains can be as green as possible” is an open door to fracked gas. This is not “as green as possible”. Remember this is the same PSE who is right now building a massive LNG facility in Tacoma, illegally, without all required permits. Figure into the equation that fracked gas extraction, transportation and combustion is actually more harmful to the climate than coal and that PSE CEO Kimberly Harris will soon be Chair of the Board of Directors of the American Gas Association.

PSE can do much more, and should. They are the largest privately held utility in Washington State. They need to show true leadership on carbon reduction and climate change, not sham press releases that do nothing but hide “business as usual” pollution of our air and destruction of our climate.

— Kevin Jones