With all the election buzz, one issue seems to be left out of the discussion: Clean energy, and specifically, solar power.

With all the droughts, and wildfires in Eastern Washington and the lack of snow on the cascades, we know we need clean energy. With the economy still recovering from the great recession, we know we need to create more jobs.

Solar power has no emissions and creates jobs 20 times faster than the rest of the economy. In 2014 the Washington state solar industry employed 2,400 people, while making up less than one half of 1 percent of Washington’s electricity. Imagine the environmental and economic benefits if solar power made up 10 percent of our electricity mix.

It isn’t an outrageous goal. We could produce 21 times as much electricity as our state currently consumes, just from the sun. However, several incentives that help people go solar are set to expire in the next few years, and many utilities aren’t allowing new solar customers to receive incentives.

For the sake of our environment, our future, and our economy, we need our state legislators to extend incentive programs, and commit to 10 percent solar by 2025.

Cecile Gernez

Environment WA