Bill helps waste-to-energy facility

It’s basketball season, so I’ll borrow a term from that sport to describe how one of the most important bills of this year’s session for the Spokane area ended up winning approval from the Legislature: The supporters put on a full court press.

The law created by House Bill 2416 exempts Spokane’s Waste-to-Energy plant from complying with emission-reduction targets created by the state’s Climate Commitment Act and gives the plant a longer period of time to reduce pollution.

Spokane-area legislators pressed for this from two directions. In the House, Rep. Natasha Hill of the 3rd District filed HB...