The Washington Clean Energy Initiative: Effects of I-937 on Consumers, Jobs and the Economy

The Union of Concerned Scientists analyzed the potential effects of Washington's Initiative 937 (I-937), which would require large electric utilities to source 15 percent of electricity from eligible renewable resources by 2020 and pursue cost-effective energy conservation. Under an expected case scenario, the report projects that by 2025, I-937 would result in $1.13 billion in cumulative savings on consumer electricity bills, the creation of 2,000 new jobs, and a reduction of 4.6 million metric tons of annual CO2 emissions. The analysis indicates that renewable energy and efficiency investments would be cost-competitive with conventional fossil fuel resources, providing long-term price stability and economic development, including $2.9 billion in new capital investment. Sensitivity analyses suggest that even under pessimistic conditions—such as higher wind costs or the expiration of federal tax credits—the initiative would generally still yield long-term savings and environmental benefits.

• Under the expected case scenario, I-937 is projected to generate significant economic benefits for Washington by 2025, including $1.13 billion in cumulative savings on consumer electricity bills, 2,000 new jobs, and $2.9 billion in new capital investment.
• The initiative would support the development of nearly 1,300 average megawatts (aMW) of renewable resource capacity by 2025, which is sufficient to meet the electricity needs of over 930,000 average homes.
• I-937's conservation requirements are expected to support the acquisition of 1,005 aMW of cost-effective energy efficiency between 2010 and 2025, an amount equivalent to eliminating the need for approximately six typical-size natural gas power plants.
• Consumer electricity bill savings are projected to begin in 2014, with annual savings reaching 7.2 percent, or $362 million, by 2025.
• The initiative is projected to create 2.6 times more jobs than fossil fuel investments would, resulting in a net increase of 1,230 jobs by 2025.
• Environmental benefits include the reduction of approximately 4.6 million metric tons of annual carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 2025, which the report equates to removing 750,000 cars from the road.
• The initiative would provide additional local economic boosts, including $167 million in new property tax revenues or payments in lieu of taxes and $30 million in income for rural landowners via wind power land leases.
• Sensitivity analysis shows that while adverse conditions (such as higher wind costs or the loss of the federal production tax credit) reduce benefits, I-937 would still yield long-term savings to consumers in most cases.
• In a highly unlikely combined pessimistic scenario, consumers would pay slightly more (1.0 percent increase in cumulative bills), but this would still be more favorable than meeting demand with higher-priced conventional energy sources.

APA

Deyette, J., & Clemmer, S. (2006). The Washington Clean Energy Initiative: Effects of I-937 on Consumers, Jobs and the Economy. Union of Concerned Scientists. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/washington-i-937-report-final.pdf

Chicago

Deyette, Jeff, and Steve Clemmer. The Washington Clean Energy Initiative: Effects of I-937 on Consumers, Jobs and the Economy. Union of Concerned Scientists, 2006. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/washington-i-937-report-final.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Deyette |first1=Jeff |last2=Clemmer |first2=Steve |title=The Washington Clean Energy Initiative: Effects of I-937 on Consumers, Jobs and the Economy |publisher=Union of Concerned Scientists |date=October 2006 |url=https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/washington-i-937-report-final.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{deyette2006washington, author = {Deyette, Jeff and Clemmer, Steve}, title = {{The Washington Clean Energy Initiative: Effects of I-937 on Consumers, Jobs and the Economy}}, institution = {Union of Concerned Scientists}, year = {2006}, month = oct, url = {https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/washington-i-937-report-final.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }