No on 2117 Campaign Launches with Unprecedented Statewide Coalition of Washington Companies, Environmental Leaders, Tribal Nations, Labor Unions, and Community Organizations United to Defeat I-2117

April 17, 2024 – No on 2117 (no2117.com), the campaign to defeat I-2117, officially launched today with an unprecedented statewide coalition of over 100 Washington companies, environmental leaders, Tribal nations, labor unions, and community organizations across the state.

The total amount raised or pledged to defeat I-2117 now exceeds $11 million, including new contributions and pledges since April 1 totaling $5.5 million from Amazon, bp America, Microsoft, Steve and Connie Ballmer, The Nature Conservancy, and others. To date, the No on 2117 campaign also has over 1,200 grassroots donors, and 95 percent of donations to No on 2117 are $100 or less.

The No on 2117 campaign launched with a new video featuring voices from across the state who oppose I-2117 and the costs it would have on workers, families, and communities:

The video features testimonials from:

• Casey, a mother in Spokane with a young asthmatic son, who is concerned about I-2117 impacts on air quality, including wildfire smoke, in their region;
• Lorilee Morsette, a Councilmember of the Suquamish Tribe who speaks about the impact of climate change on their community and how I-2117 would threaten their ability to preserve their livelihood and culture;
• Vy Nguyen, a transit user in Seattle who has concerns about the cuts to transit service and impacts on transit-dependent communities if I-2117 passes;
• Edwin Ngugi Wanji, owner of Sphere Solar Energy in Seattle who is worried about the harm I-2117 would cause to the growth of the state’s clean energy industry and businesses;
• Jason Sheehan, a dairy farmer in Sunnyside focused on how I-2117 would hurt Washington’s investments in sustainability in agriculture and cut funding for programs for farmers and ranchers;
• Nick Sudela, an electrician from Tenino who is concerned about the impacts of I-2117 on jobs in the state; and,
• Sami Schinnell, a wildland firefighter from Morton who is concerned about cuts to wildfire resilience and prevention funding if I-2117 passes.

If passed, I-2117 would strip away funding for communities across the state, including:

• Investments in clean air and water, like programs to reduce toxic air and water pollution that endangers our families and communities.
• Current programs that lower costs for Washingtonians, like utility bill discounts for households with low incomes.
• Preventing wildfires, including funding for local governments to prepare against fires.
• Transportation programs, putting transit service, ferries, and road projects across Washington at risk and making traffic worse.
• Support for Tribal nations, like programs to help keep Native communities safe from flooding and sea level rise.
• Investments in farmland, farmers, and ranchers, like grants that support farmers’ and ranchers’ sustainable practices.
• Fish habitat and salmon recovery, like grants to remove barriers that hurt migrating salmon.

“Washington State can’t afford I-2117. It would allow more pollution and cut investments in community priorities across our state like transportation and transit service and preventing wildfires,” said Wellesley Daniels, Campaign Manager for No on 2117. “Our unprecedented statewide coalition of over 100 organizations is united, and our campaign is going to ensure we have the resources to talk to voters in every county in the state about the risks and costs of I-2117.”

The No on 2117 coalition includes over 100 Washington organizations, including leading companies and small businesses, environmental leaders, Tribal nations, labor unions, and community organizations. You can view the full list of organizations endorsing No on 2117 here: www.no2117.com. 

What Members of the No on 2117 Coalition Are Saying

“REI calls on our co-op community of members and friends to vote no on Initiative 2117. We cannot afford the cuts Initiative 2117 would inflict on our efforts to reduce carbon emissions and secure healthy air, water, and forests for future generations,” said Marc Berejka, Divisional Vice President of Community Advocacy and Impact at REI. “At REI Co-op, we are united by a shared love of the outdoors. Now more than ever we need to build on the progress of our state’s businesses, communities, and Tribes for clean energy, clean transportation, and a resilient outdoors for all.”

“Endorsing No on 2117 was common sense. For decades, there was a blank check for the biggest sources of carbon pollution while the rest of us paid for it with lower air quality and wildfires that have gotten more extreme than ever,” said Kamau Chege, Executive Director, Washington Community Alliance. “Cap-and-invest is fixing that, bringing new tree canopies to Tacoma & Spokane, investing in forest management to protect rural homes from wildfires, and even getting electric school buses so kids don’t have to inhale harmful exhaust on their way to school. Why would anyone want to take away those investments?”

“If I-2117 becomes law, our communities will be left more vulnerable to climate change and it will worsen environmental inequities. Progreso: Latino Progress is firmly committed to defending the Climate Commitment Act and defeating I-2117. Vote No on I-2117.” — Jake García, Policy Director, Progreso: Latino Progress

“We are committed to defeating I-2117 and support the CCA and the historical investments it’s created in the electrical industry and the jobs it will bring while helping to make a cleaner environment and economy,” said Matthew Hepner, Executive Director of the Certified Electrical Workers of Washington, representing 12,000 workers statewide.

“The Climate Commitment Act funds critical investments in sustainable transportation. It has helped transit agencies run buses and paratransit more often so that more people can get where they need to go, and made transit free for 1.6 million Washingtonians ages 18 and under. By working together to defeat Initiative 2117, we will preserve funding for transportation that protects our air, water, and land for future generations.” — Kirk Hovenkotter Executive Director, Transportation Choices Coalition

“If 2117 passes, Washington loses. Washington loses funding for ferry construction, transit buses, preparing for wildfires, restoring salmon habitat – and a lot more. 2117 would leave our state more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and choke off transportation projects and clean energy innovation across our state,” said Michael Mann, Executive Director, Clean & Prosperous Washington. “That’s why our broad, growing coalition includes top job-creating Washington companies, and why we are committed to defeating I-2117 in November.”

“I-2117 would deal a catastrophic blow to efforts to reduce carbon and health-harming air pollution and it would have a devastating impact on our state budget. I-2117 would take away billions of dollars for needed investments in renewable energy, clean air and water, healthy communities, healthy forests, and economic support for those most impacted by the climate crisis. That’s why a broad coalition of organizations and community leaders from across our state has come together to mobilize communities in Washington to defeat I-2117.” — David Mendoza, Director of Policy & Government Relations, The Nature Conservancy

“From warming salmon streams to eroding shorelines, Northwest tribes are on the frontlines of the climate crisis. In 2021, the state took bold action by passing the Climate Commitment Act (CCA). Today, this landmark act is under attack. I-2117 would overturn the CCA, and stall progress on climate change, and it must be defeated. The CCA is helping tribal nations and other communities build resilience and reduce emissions while protecting our traditional lands, water, and the other species. In 1854 our ancestral leader, Chief Seattle, said ‘every part of this soil is sacred to my people’ just before he signed our ancient lands over to the United States. With the CCA, we honor his vision and provide Elders, children, and other vulnerable people the means to withstand the impacts of global warming. By defeating I-2117, we can defend progress on climate change, and protect the lands, cultures, and traditional ways of our region for generations to come.” — Suquamish Tribal Chair Leonard Forsman

“I-2117 would undo our state’s progress in reducing the disproportionate impacts of climate change and poor air quality on Black communities. It would mean more toxic pollution and hurt equitable access to clean air and water, and to clean transportation and transit – cutting funding for programs like no-fare transit for youth. It would place the burden of pollution on underserved communities who have long been the most impacted,” said Paula Sardinas, Founder of the Washington Build Back Black Alliance. “The Washington Build Back Black Alliance is proud to stand with Washingtonians from across the state to work together to defeat I-2117.”

“The big key to being sustainable and lasting as a farmer is taking care of your land. That’s why I’ve been excited to see investment in agriculture and sustainability over the past few years here in Washington,” said Jason Sheehan, Owner, J&K Dairy. “I-2117 would cut many of those investments and hurt agriculture in Washington State, and it would cost all of money.”

“A decade ago, the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce joined an open declaration acknowledging climate change as a significant risk to our economy and quality of life, and acknowledged the clear and present need to take action,” said Rachel Smith, President and CEO of the Chamber. “Since that time, businesses around the region have made meaningful climate commitments, worked through complex public policy to address emissions, and developed solutions being brought to market. Today, we have another opportunity for action: the Chamber’s official endorsement of the campaign to fight the statewide effort to repeal the Climate Commitment Act. Join us in voting no on Initiative 2117.”

“This November, the people of Washington State will have the opportunity to make one of the most important decisions on climate change in the nation: voting No on 2117. I-2117 would take Washington backwards,” said Gregg Small, Executive Director, Climate Solutions. “It would take away funding from the things that make the people of Washington winners—cleaner air by replacing polluting large diesel trucks and buses with clean electric ones; better understanding of health and pollution disparities through significantly more air monitoring in historically marginalized communities; and a lot more good jobs in existing industries and in new emerging technologies. Our organization, and an incredibly diverse coalition of allies from around the state, are going to do everything that we can to make sure that this initiative does not succeed.”

“We need the Climate Commitment Act to meet our state’s goals to significantly reduce carbon emissions in the coming decades. The CCA benefits all Washingtonians by placing the burden for reducing emissions on our state’s biggest polluters and investing in tangible benefits for everyday Washingtonians like transit improvements and climate resilience projects across the state,” said Britta Voss, AFSCME Council 28/WFSE member.

“bp supports economy-wide, market-based carbon pricing programs so we’re excited to be a part of a broad coalition of business, environmental, labor and tribal voices in Washington state to defeat Initiative 2117.  We supported the passage of the Climate Commitment Act and we support the campaign to convince the people of Washington to vote no on this initiative and keep the state’s carbon pricing program alive.” — Tom Wolf, Senior Government Affairs Manager, bp America, US West Coast

“As a pediatrician, I strongly support the Washington Climate Commitment Act.  Respiratory issues such as asthma and upper respiratory viruses are the number one reason children are hospitalized.  Climate change puts kids’ lungs at risk.  The more we work to solve climate change, the healthier our children will be.  Vote yes for kids’ health and no on 2117.  Kids deserve to breathe clean air.”  — Alexandra Perkins, MD/MPH, Pediatric Hospitalist

“As a family doctor,  I strongly support the Washington Climate Commitment Act. It will save lives and our kids from air pollution and heat waves, while helping our communities protect their health. Vote yes for your health and no on 2117. When you can’t breathe, nothing else matters.” — Chris Covert-Bowlds, MD, Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility

“Growers in Washington know firsthand the threat of extreme temperatures and erratic rainfall on our operations and our crops,” said Ron Zee, Sweet Earth Farm. “I-2117 would cut programs that help farmers and ranchers use regenerative practices and take us backwards to less resilience in the face of climate impacts.”

“Sheet Metal Workers have seen an unprecedented level of state investment recently in job-creating areas like indoor air quality in schools; heat pump incentives; building emission reduction incentives; clean energy permitting and siting; and nuclear technology. These investments – and the jobs that come from them- disappear if I-2117 passes, and that’s why Sheet Metal Workers are joining the fight to protect the CCA, which prioritizes workers in Washington’s transition to a clean energy economy,” said Devin Leingang, Regional Manager, Sheet Metal Workers Local 66.

By The Numbers: The Effort to Defeat 2117

Over 100: Number of Washington organizations endorsing No on 2117

Over $11M: Amount raised or pledged to defeat I-2117

Over 1,300: Number of grassroots donors to No on 2117

95: Percent of No on 2117 donors contributing $100 or less

About No on 2117

At a time of extreme political division, the No on I-2117 campaign is bringing together Washingtonians from across the state to stop the rollback of protections for our air and water, forests and farmlands, jobs and transportation investments. We’re an unprecedented coalition of over 100 environmental and business leaders, Tribal nations, labor unions, and community organizations coming together to fight I-2117 because so much is at stake. Join us to fight for your community: no2117.com

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