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MRSC Insight Blog


Posts for Utilities

2025 Legislation that Advances Sustainability in Washington Communities

July 7, 2025  by  Lisa Pool
Category:  Comprehensive Planning-Growth Management ,  Cycling and Walking ,  Administration ,  Climate and Sustainability ,  Parking ,  Environmental Laws and Regulations ,  Streets and Sidewalks ,  Housing ,  Utilities ,  New Legislation and Regulations

This year's state legislative session passed bills addressing sustainability and climate action, updating the state's Clean Buildings Performance Standard, enacting extended producer responsibility, and encouraging the development of shared streets.

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Want More Affordable Housing? Reducing Infrastructure Costs Could Help

December 31, 2024  by  Leonard Bauer
Category:  Housing ,  Impact Fees ,  Utilities

With affordable housing as a top priority for communities across the state, local governments can reduce costs related to development fees and reconsider infrastructure requirements to encourage the development of housing projects affordable to all income levels. 

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Utility trucked parked on sidewalk with a road sign noting that utility work is being done

A Compendium of 2023 Utilities Legislation

November 13, 2023  by  Steve Gross
Category:  Environmental Laws and Regulations ,  Utilities ,  New Legislation and Regulations

It was a mixed bag for utility legislation in 2023. There are some new obligations for utilities, but certain non-project and project actions are now categorically exempt from SEPA review.

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Wildfire under an electrical transmission line in a forested area

State-Based Efforts, Legislation Boost Local Risk Reduction, Resiliency to Wildfires

August 8, 2023  by  Leah LaCivita
Category:  Environmental Laws and Regulations ,  Emergency Management ,  Fire Protection ,  Utilities ,  New Legislation and Regulations

With wildfire season underway, local governments should be aware of bills passed during the 2023 Regular Legislative Session addressing wildfire events and proposed permanent rules to protect outdoor workers from wildfire smoke.

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An image of 3 people at a recycling center sorting out types of recycled material

Local Governments Pursue Zero-Waste Measures

February 1, 2023  by  Leah LaCivita
Category:  Climate and Sustainability ,  Utilities

Zero-waste measures for local governments run the gamut from multi-year materials management projects to consumer education on how to recycle or compost properly. The end goals are to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and responsibly manage public resources.

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Court Upholds King County Ordinance Requiring Franchise Compensation for Use of Right-of-Way

January 7, 2020  by  Jill Dvorkin
Category:  Court Decisions and AGO Opinions ,  Utilities ,  Water Utilities

Can a county charge a fee for allowing a utility to use the county’s right-of-way for placement of utility infrastructure? The Washington Supreme Court ruled recently that it can. 

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A Recycling Crisis in Washington?

November 21, 2018  by  Leah LaCivita
Category:  Utilities

Since the beginning of the year, the costs to collect, sort, store, and ship recycled materials have risen dramatically while the market for these goods has collapsed. This blog post looks at the impact this has had on waste management efforts across the state. 

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Bitcoin Comes to Washington

May 22, 2018  by  Leah LaCivita
Category:  Utilities ,  Licensing and Regulation

What is cryptocurrency and why have public utility districts, cities, and counties across the state enacted ordinances and moratoriums impacting the businesses seeking to profit from "mining" cryptocurrency? This blog post looks at the complexities.  

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Funding Utility Infrastructure

June 14, 2017  by  Courtney Black
Category:  Guest Author ,  Public Works Finance ,  Utilities

The facilities that make up your utility infrastructure won’t last forever. This post looks at how asset management options can help a utility avoid significant funding challenges or impacts to ratepayers during infrastructure replacement.

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Franchising - An Essential Tool for Right-of-Way Management

May 18, 2016  by  Jim Doherty
Category:  Utilities

Many city and county attorneys and public works directors are familiar with utility franchising issues, but many other city and county elected officials and staff are not, even though they may encounter them as part of their public duties. Understanding the basics of franchising will help in approaching these issues and in appreciating the complexity of the often unnoticed utility systems providing services to your residents and businesses.

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