Tri-Cities lawmaker promoted in key energy committee in WA Legislature
A Tri-Cities lawmaker and leading critic of the governor’s authority to overturn clean energy siting applications has been promoted to ranking member on the Washington Legislature’s Senate Environment, Energy and Technology Committee.
That means Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick, will serve as the top Republican in the state Senate committee. In a statement last week, Boehnke said he was honored to be elevated to the position.
“The work of the (committee) lines up well with the 8th District’s interests,” he said. “I am particularly focused on pursuing advances in nuclear power, hydrogen and emergency technologies that support grid reliability, energy supply and energy conservation, as those are important not only here but statewide.”
The 8th Legislative District encompasses Kennewick and parts of West Pasco and South Richland.
Boehnke works as an associate professor of computer science at Columbia Basin College and is a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel.
He was also recently chosen by the state attorney general to serve on an 18-person task force to study policy and make suggestions around emerging artificial intelligence technologies.
In addition to the promotion, he’s also joining the Senate Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee, as well as the powerful Rules Committee, which considers bills for full Senate votes after they clear committee.
Boehnke will continue to serve on the Senate Ways and Means Committee, where he’ll be involved in developing the next state budget. Washington is facing a $12 billion budget shortfall caused by declining tax collections.
Gov. Jay Inslee has proposed a wealth tax on some of the state’s uber-wealthy residents, a proposal that’s likely to see hard pushback from Republicans and the state’s leading businesses.
The Kennewick Republican has prefiled several bills in the lead up to the 2025 legislative session, including one to revise the state’s vehicle-emission standards and another that would strike the governor’s authority to intervene on energy project siting approval around the state.
That comes after Inslee returned a recommendation on the Horse Heaven Hills wind farm, requesting a revision that gives higher priority to the state’s clean energy needs.
The Legislature will convene Jan. 13 to begin its 105-day session.
