Washington Tax Relief For Silicon Smelters & PUD

As local resistance to the toxic silicon smelter in Newport grows, it will be important to understand the overall context of who you are fighting against. It's far bigger then many may realize.

Every resistance group is eventually infiltrated by one or more individuals who will appear to be a supporter to the groups cause. Their real agenda is to learn about the efforts, tactics, meetings, members and activities of the group, so that they can be more effectively resisted.

As resistance grows, they will work to subvert, deflect and distract any effective resistance. Very often, they will rise to position of leadership within these groups, because they will appear to be some of the most ardent supporters of the group effort. I'll explain how to handle this.

Right now, Pend Oreille County, HiTest Inc., and State officials in both Washington and Idaho are scrambling to do exactly this. The Facebook group, Citizens Against Newport Silica Smelter (CANSS) is already being watched for postings and information that will help them overcome the rising resistance to the smelter.

Facebook permits a members list for any group created. Smart counter-activists (working against the resistance group) will either have fake Facebook profiles or not be on Facebook at all. So the membership list of CANSS won't be very accurate for identifying who the infiltrators are.

CANSS could emphasize the common ground for all residents in Washington and Idaho (the smelter is not a political issue). We all want a healthy, safe place to live no matter what political affiliation or party we may support. Public flyers, downloadable information and easy-to-find meetings and schedules could be posted online and in each town.

You will need to hand-pick known people to guide each resistance group. People that are both well known and trusted. This leadership should set the agenda - targeted resistance activities. Right now, there is a ton of information gathering, which is essential, but this should not distract from resistance activities which should begin immediately.

Not everything should be posted in a public forum because you are simply informing the opposition of your knowledge, intentions, meetings and plans. Those who have experience with lawsuits and litigation can help with this.

Do not rely on just one resistance group because they will then easily defeat you. Don't even make them all public. They should not all be the same either, but coordinate lightly where possible to prevent redundancy and overlapping activities and efforts. There are many, many things to be done.

You are in a fight for your lives. You must come to understand the level of opposition that you are against which extends to the highest levels in Washington (and in DC). It's been underway for quite some time while keeping local residents in the dark.

Washington State Tax Relief Bill For Silicon Smelters and Energy Providers

Washington State has proposed new legislation to provide tax relief for silicon smelters AND incentives for energy providers.  They've been planning this for a long time.

This is all the evidence you need to understand what is really at stake here. While they've been lying to us all about "jobs", they are giving a targeted handout to HiTest. This definitely appears to be illegal - they cannot lawfully give a tax incentive to a specific company, which appears to be their intentions. This needs to be rapidly investigated and brought before the State Legislature.

Bill History - http://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1403&Year=2017


These are the names of the individuals sponsoring this bill - and the committees they represent. Pay particular attention here.

URL: leg.wa.gov/house/representatives/pages/default.aspx

Senator Shelly Short (R) - Sponsor Bill 1403

http://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2017-18/Htm/Bills/House%20Bills/1403.htm

Representative Larry Springer (R)

Committees
Agriculture & Natural Resources
Appropriations
Finance
Rules

Representative Joel Kretz (R) - the only name that represents 7th District Pend Oreille County

Committees
Rules (Asst Ranking Minority Member)
Agriculture & Natural Resources

Representative J.T. Wilcox (R)

Committees
Appropriations
Finance
Rules

Representative Brian Blake (D)

Committees
Agriculture & Natural Resources (Chair)
Business & Financial Services
Commerce & Gaming

Representative Joe Schmick (R)

Committees
Health Care & Wellness (Ranking Minority Member)
Agriculture & Natural Resources
Appropriations

Representative Dick Muri (R)

Committees
Education (Asst Ranking Minority Member)
Judiciary (Asst Ranking Minority Member)
Early Learning & Human Services

Representative Kristine Lytton (D)

Committees
Finance (Chair)
Agriculture & Natural Resources
Appropriations

Representative Jeff Morris (D)

Committees
Technology & Economic Development (Chair)
Capital Budget
Transportation

It's plain as day that they've been working against us all for well over a year, getting this lined up. Their intentions have always been to bring in a smelting operation into Washington. They've covered Finance, Natural Resources, Judiciary, Transportation, Technology and Health.

This is how "lawful" actions against the citizens get passed into law. They've carefully selected the legislatures they require to push this monstrosity onto the population of Washington and Idaho (add Jeff Connolly of Bonner County Commissioner, Idaho to this growing list of supporters).

Bill 1403 HBA - http://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2017-18/Pdf/Bill%20Reports/House/1403%20HBA%20TED%2017.pdf 

Summary of Bill:

Public Utility Tax and Business and Occupation Tax Credits

A utility that provides manufactured gas, natural gas, or electricity to a silicon smelter is eligible for a PUT credit equal to the gross income from the sale of the electricity or gas to the silicon smelter multiplied by the PUT rate, provided that the contract for the sale of electricity or gas to the silicon smelter specifies that the price charged will be reduced by an amount equal to the credit. "Silicon smelter" means a manufacturing facility that processes silicainto high-purity silicon used exclusively in components of photovoltaic solar energy systems. A utility that provides manufactured gas, natural gas, or electricity to a silicon smelter is eligible for a B&O tax credit equal to the gross income from the sale of the electricity or gas to the silicon smelter multiplied by the corresponding
B&O tax rate, provided that the contract for the sale of electricity or gas to the silicon smelter specifies that the price charged will be reduced by an amount equal to the credit.

The PUT and B&O tax credits available to a utility provider of gas or electricity to a silicon smelter do not apply to amounts received from the remarketing or resale of electricity originally obtained by contract for the smelting process.

We are all going to get easily distracted trying to find ways to share information. But even information sharing and public opposition will not be enough (being angry about this does not actually accomplish anything). It is not effective for real resistance.

These people will only respond to money, to lawsuits, to constant harassment and public embarrassment. They live here too - and can be reached by any of us. All of their activities that fit these requirements need to be exposed, and then brought before the courts.