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Bill Bryant on Energy & Oil
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I believe in climate change, but focus elsewhere
Q: According to Kofi Annan, former Secretary-General of the United Nations: "Climate change is the most emblematic challenge in this age of globalization. For the sake of our grandchildren, we cannot refuse that challenge." (The Case For True
Leadership on Climate Change--Kofi Annan Foundation, 30 Nov 2015) What is your opinion of this quotation?Bill Bryant: I believe in climate change, but I believe think the biggest challenge confronting Washington state is our inequitable and
antiquated education system. Washington's achievement gap has widened more than any other state and we still fail to graduate about a quarter of our ninth-graders.
Education is in our constitution as the state's paramount duty. Gov. Inslee has failed at our state's paramount responsibility and that means he has failed as governor. It's time for new leadership.
Source: LWV's Vote411.org on 2016 Washington Gubernatorial Race
, Sep 19, 2016
Supported leasing oil drilling port for jobs benefit
In 2015, Royal Dutch Shell Oil proposed leasing then-empty Terminal 5 as home port for its controversial Arctic offshore drilling fleet. Bryant, who said he personally opposed Arctic drilling, backed the proposal for job-creation reasons.The proposal
drew a fierce backlash, with activists ultimately descending on Seattle's Port to block Shell's vessels. The oil giant ultimately suspended its Arctic pursuits and pulled out of Seattle. Amid the furor, Port commissioners at one point voted to ask
Shell to delay arrival of its fleet, with only Bryant voting against that resolution.
Bryant defends his support of the lease. Hosting the fleet had no adverse environmental impact and could have meant hundreds of jobs to the region, he said; blocking
the lease for political reasons would have been symbolic, but wouldn't have stopped Shell from finding another port. "I don't think we want to take an action that's symbolic if it jeopardizes middle-class jobs," Bryant said.
Source: Seattle Times on 2016 Washington Gubernatorial debate
, Aug 12, 2016
Reduced the Port of Seattle 's carbon footprint
Eight years ago Bill was elected to the Port of Seattle Commission, where he led efforts to reform the port:- Fighting "crony capitalism," by bringing sunshine to the port's business practices;
- Reducing the port's
carbon foot print and lowering air pollution;
- Cutting property taxes;
- Working regionally to improve the state's transportation system; and
- Uniting the Ports of Seattle and Tacoma to keep our region competitive and to protect good jobs.
Source: 2016 gubernatorial website, BillBryantForGovernor.com
, Jun 17, 2015
Allow oil rigs through Port of Seattle for Arctic drilling
Port of Seattle Commissioner Bill Bryant launched a bid for governor, saying he's running to improve education, create "solid family-wage jobs" and avoid putting "any more tax burden on middle-class families." His ambitions for higher office come amid
a major controversy at his current job--the legal and political fight over Shell oil rigs docking along Seattle's waterfront in preparation for drilling off Alaska's North Slope.This week, Bryant was the only port commissioner to vote against asking
Shell to delay the arrival of its vessels. Even as Bryant's campaign went live, the Polar Pioneer, the first of those oil rigs, arrived in Elliott Bay, greeted by protesters in kayaks.
Despite approval by the Obama administration of the
Arctic drilling, environmentalists argue Seattle should not be complicit in oil extraction that will worsen global climate change. They have hotly opposed the port's Terminal lease. Bryant avoided the controversy in his announcement video.
Source: Seattle Times on 2016 Washington gubernatorial race
, May 14, 2015
Page last updated: Dec 13, 2020
