May 9, 2008 2:45 PM

Washington State Finally Gets Wilderness Protection

Washington State last had any Wilderness designated. Yesterday, President Bush signed into the Wild Sky Wilderness legislation supported by both Senators Patty Murray and Senator Cantwell, which will designate 106,000 acres in Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest northeast of Seattle. CREDO members sent in thousands of letters over the last 6 years to push Congress to pass the Wild Sky Wilderness legislation and now Washingtonians can finally rejoice.

Washington State is often a leader on environmental issues and Wilderness is just one way we can protect the environment for the future. Yet, Bill Gates wants to take us two steps back in protecting the environment by investing on coal powered projects. Gates' personal investment company, Cascade Investment Management, is the largest stakeholder in Otter Tail Corporation, the lead sponsor of the controversial Big Stone II coal project in Minnesota. Washingtonians should celebrate the victory on protecting wilderness, but keep up the fight by tell Bill Gates to stop investing in dirty coal and instead invest in renewable energy sources such as wind, solar or geothermal power. Click here to send Bill Gates an e-mail today.