Washington state could spread the green around

Washington state could be a leader not only in efforts to combat humanity's contribution to climate change — but in helping the rest of the nation and world as well.

Such efforts on many levels could bolster the state's economy in what will continue to be trying times. Here are a few examples:

• Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., in a recent speech to the Washington Council on International Trade said she will work to eliminate other countries' tariffs on — and trade barriers to — U.S. clean-energy technology, goods and services and urge the next president to do so. These technologies developed in the United States as a result of aggressive climate-change policies could help developing countries keep greenhouse gases in check.

Washington's economy, through struggling, is faring better than much of the rest of the nation because of its robust trading relationships with countries on the Pacific Rim. That, combined with expanding investments in green technologies, makes this a promising opportunity.

• In his Wednesday campaign infomercial, Sen. Barack Obama mentioned the Seattle-based McKinstry Co. as a model for the nation. The construction and energy-services contractor helps retrofit existing buildings to make them more energy efficient.

• Jim Luce, chairman of the Washington Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council, in a Seattle Times online oped column today, argues our state's requirement that utilities provide more non-hydropower renewable energy, such as wind power, could fit in well with economic-stimulus efforts under consideration by the federal government. He says Bonneville Power Administration should be permitted to borrow more money from the U.S. Treasury to invest in electricity-transmission infrastructure in the Northwest.

The investments would create jobs and help energy companies get the renewable power they are required to buy under state law to customers. And Bonneville would pay all the money back at market-rate interest — something not likely to happen with the Wall Street bailout.

• Add in the state Legislature's investments in green technologies, including the Washington State University Bioproducts, Sciences and Engineering Laboratory.

There is opportunity in trying times — and the two senators and Chairman Luce are onto something.