We can’t afford I-2117.

The Costs of I-2117 to Communities, Workers, and Families If It Passes and Becomes Law

If approved, I-2117 would allow more pollution and strip away billions of dollars in investments in community priorities in every county in our state:

Clean Air & Water: Passage of I-2117 would devastate funding for clean air and water in Washington State. That includes removing current funding sources for:

• Programs to reduce toxic air and water pollution that endangers our health and communities;

• Assistance to local governments and organizations to purchase air quality monitoring equipment;

• Improvements and updates for stormwater runoff, including replacing culverts to benefit salmon; and,

• Grant programs for restoring and protecting critical areas along rivers, lakes, and streams and restoring natural floodplains.

Programs That Lower Costs for Washingtonians: I-2117 would cut programs that lower costs for low- and middle-income households in Washington, including:

• Funding for the program that delivers high-efficiency home heating appliances for low- and moderate-income households to save money on their monthly energy bills;

• Rebates for high-efficiency home heating appliances

• Programs to help low-income households make their homes more energy efficient and lower their energy costs;

• A program that provides utility bill discounts to low-income households;

• Discounts for natural gas customers with low incomes; and,

• No-fare transit and ferries for youth across the state.

Forest Health and Preventing Wildfires: I-2117 would cut investments happening today in forest health and land management — as well as programs that help local governments and landowners prevent and prepare for wildfires, including

• $83 million for state forests, including forest health programs;

• Millions for management of our public lands, including state wildlife areas;

• Funding for the “Firewise” state grant program that helps local governments and landowners with projects like thinning out forests and brush around structures; and,

• Programs for local conservation districts to help make forests healthier and more resilient to wildfire.

Transportation | Putting Transit Service, Ferries and Road Projects at Risk across the State and Making Traffic Worse: I-2117 would punch a major hole in our state’s already strained transportation budget and put transit service, ferries and road projects across Washington at risk and make traffic worse. The Climate Commitment Act provides over $5.4 billion of investment in Move Ahead Washington, our state’s main transportation funding plan. Specific examples of investments that would be cut include investments in:

• Public transit service across Washington;

• No-fare transit and ferries for youth in every county;

• Our Safe Routes to Schools program, which support investments in priorities like crosswalks and signage near schools and playgrounds;

• Pedestrian and bicyclists safety grant programs, which help fund sidewalks and pedestrian and bike paths; and,

• Funding to help replace our state's aging ferry fleet.

Programs That Support Tribal Nations: I-2117 would remove funding that supports Tribal Nations and their communities, including:

• Programs to keep Native communities safe from flooding and sea level rise;

• Programs for clean energy projects, like solar and wind; and,

• Transit services and transit projects on tribal lands.

Programs That Protect Fish Habitat & Support Salmon Recovery: I-2117 will eliminate funding for protecting endangered fish habitat and supporting salmon recovery across the state. That includes:

• Removing barriers that hurt migratory fish, like spawning salmon; and,

• Programs for salmon recovery and improving their habitat in lakes, rivers, and streams.

I-2117 would shift the burden of paying for the impacts of pollution on to communities, workers, and families.