Climate dollars eyed to backfill WA wildfire funding

Washington's lands commissioner, Dave Upthegrove, is pushing for an additional $60 million in wildfire funding from the state's Climate Commitment Act during the next legislative session. This initiative comes as the state faces a budget deficit, with lawmakers having allocated only $60 million for wildfire programs this year, down from previous cycles. The funding aims to bolster efforts initiated under House Bill 1168, which provided $500 million over eight years for wildfire prevention and forest health. Upthegrove believes that investing in proactive wildfire measures can save the state money in the long run by preventing larger, more destructive fires. The Climate Commitment Act has raised over $3 billion since its inception, with some of that revenue already being directed to wildfire initiatives for the first time this year.

Lawmakers are still negotiating how much of the proposed $60 million could come from this climate funding. Springer highlights the significant link between wildfires and air pollution, advocating for greater awareness among his colleagues. As they prepare for challenging budget discussions, both lawmakers emphasize the importance of securing these funds for wildfire resilience.