Inslee visits Walla Walla Friday

By Dan Thesman on Friday, February 16th, 2024 in Columbia Basin News Columbia Basin Top Stories

WALLA WALLA – Gov. Jay Inslee will travel to Walla Walla County today (Friday). His visit centers on two issues – transitioning to clean energy and tackling the fentanyl crisis.

The governor will begin his day participating at 11:40 a.m. in a roundtable with Woman of Wisdom Tri-Cities (WOW) and Valley Transit to discuss their approach to expanding electric vehicle (EV) accessibility. A car share program, funded by a grant from the Washington State Department of Transportation, allows low and moderate-income households access to zero-emission vehicles for short-term use. This is achieved through membership programs and strategically placed charging stations facilitated by WOW.

At 1:40 p.m., Inslee will then visit with the Walla Walla Fire Department to learn how first responders are adapting to increased fentanyl overdoses. According to the governor’s office, fentanyl-related overdoses have shifted from an occasional occurrence to a daily reality for the WWFD. Crews now respond to more overdoses in a single month than they once did in an entire year.

The governor will conclude his visit at 2:40 p.m. meeting with Port of Walla Walla officials and visiting the Wallula Gap Business Park, where the port is exploring proposed projects in clean energy and working on attracting companies that produce sustainable aviation fuel, EV battery manufacturing and more.