The executive board in charge of the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians has signaled its support for Washington’s carbon emissions fee initiative.
The organization is holding its annual fall conference this week in Worley, Idaho.
Initiative 1631 would impose a 15-dollar per metric ton fee on carbon, beginning in 2020. It would also increase the fee by two-dollars-a-year until the state reaches its greenhouse gas goals.
Theresa Sheldon from the Tulalip Tribes says Native organizations would be eligible to collect as much as 10% of the fees raised to fund their own climate change projects.
“What we really need, and thank you to ATNI’s executive board for supporting 1631, is tribes to get out the vote to your tribal citizens and let them know you support this initiative and to vote yes on the ballot," Sheldon said. "It’s polling really well at 62%, but we can’t take anything for granted.”
Sheldon says a First American political action committee has been formed to support the initiative and to accept donations for the campaign.
