Address: 117 Legislative Modular Building * PO Box 40408 * Olympia, WA 98504
Olympia Office: (360) 786-7614 * Toll Free Hotline: (800) 562-6000 * E-mail: Matt.Boehnke@leg.wa.gov
July 16, 2025
Empowering our clean-energy future
Dear Neighbors and Friends,
For generations, Richland, Kennewick, Pasco, and the surrounding com munities have stood at the epicenter of American scientific progress. Our region played a vital role in winning World War II, ending the cold war, and continues to spearhead clean-energy research and support for national security through institutions like the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and Energy Northwest.
Now, as our state and the nation take steps toward a carbon-free energy future, nuclear power must be central to that vision – and the Tri-Cities is ready to lead once again.
As a local lawmaker, I see firsthand the talent, infrastructure, and community support already in place for nuclear energy. Our region isn’t debating whether nuclear power should be part of the future – we’re actively building it. Energy Northwest is collaborating with national and regional partners to deploy small modular reactors (SMRs), an advanced technology that heralds the next generation of clean, safe, and reliable nuclear power. These new reactors are more compact, cost-effective, and scalable, making them a practical complement to wind, solar, and hydropower.
Boehnke joins Western Energy Caucus and international delegation to Denmark
Working toward a more reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy future for Washington and the West
This June, I joined an elite bipartisan group of lawmakers from across the western United States to help launch the new Western Energy Caucus (WEC)—a regional initiative focused on advancing practical, forward-looking energy solutions that address grid reliability, affordability, and sustainability.
I was selected to represent Washington in the WEC based on my strong legislative record and leadership on energy innovation, clean-tech workforce development, and public-private partnerships. As part of the inaugural cohort, I participated in the caucus’s first international policy exchange in Denmark, where members explored global best practices in clean energy generation, transmission, and storage.
Energy policy discussion at Tri-City Regional Chamber’s “Behind the Bill” advocacy roundtable
Event highlights the direct impact of Olympia’s energy decisions on local families and businesses
In early July, I spoke at the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Regional Advocacy Roundtable: Behind the Bill – How Policy Shapes Your Energy Costs—a timely forum examining how state-level decisions are directly influencing rising utility bills and the future of energy affordability in the Tri-Cities and across Washington.
The event brought together local business leaders, utility stakeholders, and policymakers for a candid and constructive discussion on energy legislation, rate impacts, and policy opportunities to ensure reliable, cost-effective power for homes and industries.
Energy policy is no longer something abstract. It’s showing up in monthly bills, gas prices, and infrastructure projects that affect every part of our lives. We need a balanced approach—one that supports innovation, protects affordability, and keeps reliability front and center.
Events Calendar | August
Aug. 4-6 | 2025 NCSL Legislative Summit
Aug. 8 | Goodwill Industries of Tri-Cities Annual Employee Picnic
Aug. 11-13 | 2025 Washington Economic Development Assoc. Summer Conference