Governor Jay Inslee has chosen a Seattle Housing Authority community as the setting to sign five important climate change bills recently passed by the state legislature. On Tuesday, May 7, Governor Inslee will be at Rainier Vista at 3:00 p.m. for a signing ceremony expected to draw between 200 and 300 people. The ceremony will be in the area of South Genesee Street and 29th Ave South, near the central park at Rainier Vista. SHA residents and the general public are invited to attend.

Residents coming from locations other than Rainier Vista are encouraged to use light rail or other public transit as parking will be very limited.

Governor Inslee chose Rainier Vista because he wants to emphasize that climate change is an issue that affects everyone, regardless of background or income. He will be signing the following climate solutions actions:

House Bill 2042, designed to advance the adoption of green transportation options, including electric vehicles and alternative fuels.

Senate Bill 5116, intended to phase out the use of fossil fuels in power generation, calls for utilities to wean themselves away from coal by 2025 and remove all natural gas-generated electricity from their retail electric loads by 2045.

House Bill 1112, which phases out the use of hydrofluorocarbons -- which are classified as a greenhouse gas -- in equipment such as industrial refrigeration units.

House Bill 1257, directs the state’s Commerce Department to design new energy standards for buildings larger than 50,000 square feet. It also requires the State Building Code Council to develop rules for charging electric vehicles in new buildings.

House Bill 1444, sets efficiency standards for some appliances using electricity or water, and is based on standards already implemented in California and Vermont.

SHA’s Executive Director Andrew Lofton will welcome the Governor to Rainier Vista and there will be several other dignitaries speaking and in attendance.

In the event of rain, the ceremony will move to the Miller Community Center, 330 19th Avenue East, Seattle.