State Leadership Matters for Washington’s Energy Future

The clean energy transition is entering a new phase. Washington has spent years setting ambitious clean energy goals. Now comes the harder part: making sure the state has the infrastructure to deliver on them.

That is the point former Washington Gov. Jay Inslee makes in a recent Washington Post column, which argues that states still have powerful tools to advance clean energy, strengthen reliability, and respond to rising electricity demand, even as federal energy policy shifts.

For Washington, the takeaway is clear. Clean energy goals do not become reality on their own. They require planning, permitting, and the infrastructure needed to keep power reliable as demand increases.

Battery energy storage is part of that infrastructure. Storage helps add flexibility to the grid, supports reliability during periods of high demand, and helps make better use of renewable energy resources when they are available.

Projects like the proposed Cascadia Ridge Resiliency Energy Storage Project are part of the broader work needed to strengthen Washington’s energy future. As the state continues moving toward a cleaner grid, leaders at every level will need to support practical, responsible energy infrastructure that helps keep the lights on.

The clean energy transition is not just a policy goal. It is an implementation challenge. Washington has the tools to lead, but that leadership depends on moving needed projects forward.