Protecting Coastal and Marine Ecosystems 

Toxic contaminants in our marine waters build up through the food web and effect the health of local seabirds like Rhinoceros Auklets. Ships calling on Washington state ports are currently required to use low-sulfur fuels, yet many bypass this regulation by using cleaning systems known as scrubbers to clean the toxic contaminants out of their exhaust using seawater. More than 80% of scrubbers dump the polluted seawater back into the ocean and inland waters. This discharge contains heavy metals and other toxic contaminants that threaten water quality, public health, marine economies and fish and wildlife. Audubon Washington is supporting legislation that would close this loophole and reduce air and water pollution from ocean-going vessels and improve marine ecosystem health. 

--->Policy Focus: HB 1652 / SB 5519 Reducing environmental impacts associated with the operation of certain ocean-going vessels 

Climate and Clean Energy Infrastructure 

Audubon’s 2023 report, Birds and Transmission: Building the Grid Birds Need, lays out why we need to rapidly upgrade the transmission grid to transition to a clean energy economy and avoid the worst impacts of climate change for birds and people. We understand the risks birds face from a rapid transmission build-out, but there are well-tested solutions that can be implemented to alleviate these. Audubon is supporting legislation first introduced in 2025 aimed at improving the capacity and reliability of Washington’s electric transmission system. 

--->Policy Focus: SB 5466 Improving reliability and capacity of the electric transmission system in Washington state 

Sustaining Wildlife Conservation Through Stable Funding 

Bird conservation depends on sustained investments in habitat management and wildlife research and monitoring, which is why we are a long-time champion for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) budget. Audubon Washington is working with partners to explore long-term funding solutions for the Department that provide stability for wildlife management and habitat protection. In the meantime, we will continue to track opportunities to support these goals in the 2026 legislative session. 

--->Policy Focus: Short- and Long-term funding solutions for WDFW 

Bottles and Cans Recycling Refund Act 

Increasing our recycling rates is a win-win for birds and people. Reducing the amount of waste in our landfills is good for the planet and recycling also helps wildlife by reducing their risk of ingesting unsafe materials. Beverage containers are a major source of litter across Washington and only 30% of them are recycled. Bottle bills are an effective way to boost these rates - a refundable deposit on beverage containers promotes recycling, which in turn reduces waste and keeps plastics and aluminum out of habitats.  

--->Policy Focus: The Recycling Refund Act establishes a 10-cent refundable deposit on most beverage containers to reduce litter and increase recycling. 

With the state budget shortfall, dedicated climate and environmental funding sources are at risk. These investments represent a small share of the overall state budget, yet they deliver outsized benefits like cleaner air and water that benefit people and backyard birds like the Dark-eyed Juncos, lower energy bills, and create well-paying jobs. 

Audubon Washington is working with EPC partners to ensure climate and environmental funds are used for their intended purposes: reducing pollution and protecting communities. 

Restoring Wildfire Resilience Funding 

Wildfire is a natural part of our landscape, but increasingly large and severe fires are not. Washington’s investments in wildfire resilience are working to improve forest health, bolster support for firefighters, and invest in more prepared communities. However, recent budget cuts have reduced the Legislature’s prior funding commitment, threatening to reverse progress even now as wildfire risk grows. Audubon Washington supports restoring full funding to ensure forests, habitat, and communities remain resilient. 

--->Policy Focus: Restore full funding to the Wildfire Response, Forest Restoration, and Community Resilience Account. 

The rapid expansion of data centers presents both risks and opportunities. Without safeguards, these facilities can strain energy systems, raise costs for ratepayers, and impact air, water, and habitat. With the right policies, Washington can hold data centers to high environmental and community standards while fostering innovation.