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2024 Legislative Session

Washington is among a few unique states with commitments and strong laws to address the major sources of pollution including the grid, transportation fuels, and economy wide sectors. Our work now and in the future, will continue to focus on how we reduce emissions and who will benefit in the transition to clean energy.

Notably this session begins against the backdrop of 2023’s headlines that the Climate Commitment Act program generated a total revenue of $2.2 billion. Having the CCA actively working to make polluters pay and help fund clean energy in Washington is an extraordinary win for climate and our communities, but we will still need to ensure these dollars are invested wisely. Ultimately we may need to defend this law from detractors and opponents of climate action. 

We're nearly through this short session! Below is the latest on what we've been tracking in 2024. 

You can stay updated on all our legislative work by signing up for Washington emails and take action today by clicking here.

Download a copy of our 2024 Washington Legislative Climate Priorities.

CLEAN TRANSPORTATION 

100% Clean School Buses (HB 1368) + Budget ($80 M in CCA funding) 

*Environmental Priorities Coalition Priority 

Research shows that switching to zero-emission school buses improves kids’ health and performance in school by cutting diesel pollution. In tandem with the budget ask ($80 million of Climate Commitment Act revenue), this bill would set Washington on a pathway to 100% clean school buses and would accelerate the process by requiring new bus purchases to be zero-emission starting when the cost to own and operate a zero-emission bus is the same or less than a polluting bus (cost parity expected within five years or sooner).

The bill passed the House and Senate, After a final House concurrence vote, the bill is expected to head to the Governor's desk for his signature. 

2024 BUDGET PRIORITIES

Continuing to invest the Climate Commitment Act revenue wisely: 100% Clean School Buses and Clean Multi-family Housing 

Typically, a short session means less budget-focused work, as the biennial budget is set in long (odd-year) sessions. Ongoing revenue from the Climate Commitment Act revenue means there are additional funds to invest in climate priorities in the supplemental 2024 budget.

Multifamily Housing Decarbonization Program ($100M Operating Budget):

Low-income residents are the least able to transition off of gas, and for tenants of affordable, multi-family housing (MFH) it is largely up to building owners to transition to electric and efficient homes and appliances. Climate and clean building advocates are asking the Legislature to invest $100 million in affordable MFH housing incentives for energy efficiency upgrades and electrification retrofits (also currently in the Governor’s budget). This funding should be flexible and include outreach, planning, and technical assistance.

100% Clean School Buses ($80M Capital or Operating Budget):

We can fund the transition to zero-emission buses, help our schools, and improve our kids' health. Almost all of our 12,000+ school buses in Washington currently run on diesel, and diesel pollution causes cancer, contributes to lung and other chronic diseases, and triggers asthma attacks. Rep. Senn is leading the ask for $80 million to meet the need and growing demand for clean buses and ensure all kids can get a healthy and safe ride to school. This budget ask, as well as the accompanying legislation to mandate the transition, are a 2024 Environmental Priorities Coalition Priority.

NAVIGATING BUILDING ELECTRIFICATION BENEFITS & UTILITY PLANNING

Gas Utility Decarbonization (HB 1589)

This bill will ensure that PSE (our largest gas and electric utility) plans for the transition to clean energy, makes significant new programs available to help folks transition off of fossil gas, and creates opportunities for low-income people to access the clean energy transition. HB 1589 will require PSE to proactively plan to meet statutory requirements to decarbonize its system. Without this bill, PSE may continue planning its gas system to be reliant on fossil fuels indefinitely, resulting in stranded assets and higher costs for customers. 

Legislators in both houses passed this bill and reached concurrence. The bill is headed to Gov. Inslee for his signature.

Clean Buildings Navigator Bill (HB 1391)

With significant new clean energy incentives coming to Washingtonians from federal investments and the Climate Commitment Act, it is critical that the incentives are accessible and understandable, and that there is significant community outreach and input. This bill would create a one-stop shop and outreach campaign to do just that. 

This bill passed the House 58-39 but died in the Senate; its key provisions may be incorporated as a budget proviso. 

Thermal energy networks (HB 2131)

This bill would allow gas and electric utilities to explore the option to establish and operate thermal energy networks (also called TENS or networked geothermal), which are systems that can operate at a neighborhood scale to link together the energy systems for different buildings, distributing waste heat and energy throughout them using ground-source heat pumps. Thermal energy networks would allow customers to access the benefits of ground-source heat pumps (which are more efficient than air-source, and also can be more stable in colder climates) at lower cost, and also provide a way for gas utilities and their workforce to decarbonize, since TENS involve a system of water pipes that are fairly similar to gas pipelines. The bill would also establish a program for gas utilities to apply for Commerce grants to develop a pilot in their existing service territory.

The bill has passed both the House and Senate. 

Washington State Government

Winning on climate in WA: the importance of perseverance

by Leah Missik on

We notched some clean energy victories in Olympia this year, but there's more work yet to do. And nothing is over until it's over.

Deepening WA's clean energy commitment

by Megan Larkin on

How a lesser known bill moving through WA's 2024 legislative session will double down on clean energy by putting people first

Climate is our priority: Washington legislative mid-session update

by Joëlle Robinson on

Nearly at the midpoint of Washington's 2024 legislative session, legislators are taking action on some of the state's top climate priorities. Here's…

Washington Legislates: Our Climate Priorities for 2024

by Climate Solutions on

The Washington State Legislature has begun its short session. Climate priorities include Climate Commitment Act investments, supporting healthy…

Wind... and counter-wind

by Jonathan Lawson on

Offshore wind is picking up across the country. Also: in the Northwest, climate progress is likely to face a challenge in Washington, and Oregon…

Kids breathe easier on electric school buses

by Jonathan Lee on

Kids deserve to breathe clean, unpolluted air. Plenty of ink has already been spilled about the harms of polluted air in homes and classrooms.…

$2.2 Billion later—the Climate Commitment Act's promise for Washington communities

by Altinay Karasapan on

In its first year alone, Washington's cap-and-invest program has brought in a record $2.2 billion to invest in protections for climate, clean air,…

HUGE win for climate-friendly buildings in WA

by Joëlle Robinson on

On December 12th, the Seattle City Council voted unanimously to pass a landmark climate policy to transition large multi-family and commercial…

COP28 convenes in Dubai — with fractional results

by Jonathan Lee on

Just a year ago, fossil fuel companies complained they felt unwelcome at COP27; at this year’s COP28 international climate conference, OPEC has its…

Our kids deserve pollution-free school buses

by Jonathan Lee and Jöelle Robinson on

Washington State needs to pass a bill requiring all school buses in Washington to be zero-emission by 2035, and new bus purchases must be pollution-…

These Climate Investments Will Transform Washington

by Altinay Karasapan on

In the first three auctions for pollution permits held thanks to the Climate Commitment Act, Washington State has raised over $1.4 billion to go…

News flash: Fossil fuel companies are taking you for a ride.

by Joëlle Robinson on

While we're feeling the burden of high gas prices, big oil is playing a blame game—trying to make us believe that high prices are caused by our state…

No reason to delay climate action on buildings in WA

by Deepa Sivarajan on

Washington State's building industry is now trying to take that win away by asking the State Building Code Council to delay implementing the codes…

Permission granted: Washington's clean energy transition will be efficient, equitable and effective

by Altinay Karasapan on

More on HB 1216, designed to help bring more new clean energy projects and associated jobs to the state.

A success story: investing in climate progress

by Jonathan Lawson on

As Washington State books historic investments in clean energy, federal courts weigh in on city- and state-led efforts to counter the power of fossil…

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offshore wind

Wind... and counter-wind

Offshore wind is picking up across the country. Also: in the Northwest, climate progress is likely to face a challenge in Washington, and Oregon courts have delayed implementation of the Climate Protection Program.

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Photo of kindergarteners boarding an electric school bus

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Kids deserve to breathe clean, unpolluted air. Plenty of ink has already been spilled about the harms of polluted air in homes and classrooms. However, students are still routinely exposed to dirty, polluted air from a source in virtually every school district’s driveway: the school bus.
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