I-937 compromise scuttled

The reports from the last remaining reporters still standing in Olympia give the impression of a grueling finale to the legislative session.  And the Guv is bringing them back for a special session after legislators have had time to meet with their families:

"I told them I need you to go home. You need to reconnect with your family," Gregoire added, referring to her 12:30 a.m. talk with Speaker Chopp, Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown and two Republican leaders.

"I hope really soon, but I want them to have some time away. But I don't want them to come back and debate,’’ Gregoire said. “I’m not going to bring them back and have them spend days debating,’’ she added.

One of the remaining items is the scuttled compromise on I-937's mandated use of renewables by the utilities.  The official word from various press accounts is that Tacoma and Vancouver area legislators scuttled the compromise in looking out for their respective PUD's and ratepayers:

A coalition of Tacoma and Vancouver lawmakers had held several key budget measures hostage, waiting for legislative leaders to kill a bill the coalition said put too much of a burden on their respective utilities -- Tacoma Power and Clark County Public Utility District.

What is curious is that the Port of Vancouver relies extensively on business from the importation of wind power assemblies, especially the rotor blades.  This may be the case with Port of Tacoma as well.  So what area legislators are ascribing to one interest group might have another component as well.  If I-937 mandates more use of wind power, that means jobs for area longshoremen as well as increased activity for trucks headed out the Gorge.  

With the compromise currently dead, the trucks get to keep rolling in these uncertain economic times.