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Tax dollars at work on I-90

During an election year, the average voter will hear a lot about the good, bad and ugly of taxes — especially increases — but here's at least one example of a gas-tax hike being put to good use.

A final environmental impact statement has been issued and work on the first phase of an upgrade of heavily traveled Interstate 90 from Hyak, near the summit of Snoqualmie Pass, east to Easton is scheduled to begin next year.

The initial phase, the five-mile section from Hyak to near Keechelus Dam, is the only portion funded in a project that could eventually cost as much as $1.3 billion. A total of $545 million is set aside from the recent 9.5-cent increase in the state gas tax for that initial work, which could take up to six years.

Completing the remaining 10 miles — depending on funding — may take another 15 years.

The upgrade is long overdue and badly needed for the heavily traveled cross-state route. An average of 27,000 vehicles cross the pass each day, and as the motoring public was recently reminded on Labor Day weekend, on holidays the number jumps to about 58,000 and traffic slows to a crawl.

But this upgrade is about much more than a holiday weekend issue. In addition, the project will expand the freeway to six lanes, straighten curves, replace the existing concrete pavement, lengthen bridges and add wildlife overpasses to reduce traffic collisions with wildlife. Also proposed is a long snowshed that would cover both directions of travel in the area of the existing snowshed that protects only the westbound lanes.

Environmental groups have also signed off on the proposal.

The project will also reduce rockfall and avalanche hazards that are not only dangerous themselves but can also cause severe economic disruption when the pass is closed and commercial vehicles can't get through.

Ironically, there will be delays as construction moves forward, but in this case that's the price of progress.

In reality, 9.5 cents in state tax on a gallon of gas that in the past year has sold for as high as $4.36 per gallon isn't all that much in the total scheme of pricing. But the chunk of money it produces that will be spent for the I-90 upgrade is money well spent and will be a solid return on investment.

That highway has served the people of this state very well on both sides of the Cascades since the first motorized car traveled the original dirt road in 1905. We owe it this upgrade, which will make it an even better and more efficient component of our quality of life.

— Yakima Herald-Republic, Sept. 8

Congress must take action

to promote wind, solar energy

THIS nation must create viable alternatives to generate a substantial amount of energy in an effort to break our dependence on oil.

On that point, Republicans and Democrats seem to agree.

Why then is Congress playing the usual political games when it comes to reauthorizing tax credits to keep windmill, solar and biofuel projects moving forward?

After all, delaying the renewing of $500 million in investment and production tax credits, which are set to expire Dec. 31, puts the long-term future of current and proposed projects in jeopardy.

Those who invest in alternative energy are taking a big risk as it requires a substantial investment for things such as wind turbines. Investors have been willing to take the risk because the tax incentives make it possible to garner a profit — a return on that investment — in a reasonable period of time.

Now, uncertainty is looming. Current investors are nervous and new investors are skittish. Nobody wants to plow more money into these projects unless they know for certain how the deal will pencil out. If Congress doesn't get its act together soon, the impact could be felt right here in Southeastern Washington. Wind energy is a growing business in Walla Walla and Columbia counties. Wind turbine projects have been under way for years and new ones are planned.

Congress let the credit expire in 2000, 2002 and 2004, which resulted in wind capacity installation dropping 93 percent, 73 percent and 77 percent in those years.

Experts in the renewable-energy business estimate that investments in wind and solar power in 2009 are expected to be $26.6 billion. If the tax credits are lost, about $20 billion will be pulled off the table.

Congress has a bad habit of waiting until the last possible minute to make these critical decisions on tax policy. Last year, it waited until December to finalize the tax code, which created a crisis for the Internal Revenue Service and a fair number of taxpayers.

If Congress delays in renewing these tax credits, it will slow efforts to increase the amount of energy generated in this country. Congress must take action now.

— The Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, Sept. 10