Environmental Policy
WSU helps develop and implement progressive policies regarding energy use, building codes, and carbon research. Environmental policy research bridges the gap between the natural and social sciences. Environmental scientists and engineers tackle the technical aspects of environmental policy while social scientists analyze the ways in which science interacts with social and political systems, acknowledging that questions of policy and power are fundamentally intertwined. This research explores the particular function that local communities and average citizens play in environmental decision making. WSU faculty consult with government in response to climate change, emissions, and workforce needs.
The WSU Extension Energy Program worked closely with legislators as unbiased subject matter experts to draft Washington State Senate Bill 5101, which provides incentives for development of solar and wind-based industries and leverages the WSU Extension's energy expertise to provide technical assistance and certification services.