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.
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Download a copy of our 2024 Washington Legislative Climate Priorities.
*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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
by Jessica Finn Coven on
Our state budget should hold emitters accountable and invest in Washington communities. Our state budget should include the Carbon Pollution…
by Ben Serrurier on
Climate and clean energy debates in Olympia this year are focused on two different proposals, but only one that addresses the climate…
by Jeremy Erdman on
On Thursday, March 26, Ken Kimmell, will outline the current state of climate change as well as the prospects and impediments for success…
by Jeremy Erdman on
This month's Civic Cocktail will feature special guest Mayor Ed Murray as well as a panel of experts discussing Gov. Jay Inslee's proposed…
by Ben Serrurier on
Washington's Department of Ecology issued a draft Clean Fuel Standard this week. If a program here mirrors successes in other states,…
by Seth Zuckerman on
Germany stays on target in its transition to clean energy, U.S. poll shows half of Republicans and vast majorities of others want climate…
by Alliance for Jobs and Clean Energy on
The Alliance for Jobs and Clean Energy, launched with a show of support for legislation to put a price on large-scale carbon emissions, …
by Ben Serrurier on
State Sen. Schoesler is very concerned that UW and WSU might have to pay for their carbon emissions under the Governor's carbon reduction plan.…
by Elizabeth Willmott on
In December 2014, 37 local elected leaders from across Washington State sent a clear statement of support for bold state action on climate change and…
by Gregg Small on
2015 is shaping up to be a year of potentially significant progress on climate change and clean energy. And nowhere in our country is the promise of…
by Seth Zuckerman on
Solar jobs up 22 percent last year, carbon market comes to South Korea, fossil-free Danish island inspires Maine utilities, and more…
by Elizabeth Willmott on
The 2015 Washington State Legislature gets underway in Olympia, and local officials across Washington are ready.
by Seth Zuckerman on
Study says which fossil-fuel deposits should stay buried, Republicans back solar energy in Florida, Keystone fight emboldens opponents of other…
by Jessica Finn Coven on
Climate change—and climate action—top the list of big issues before this year's Washington State Legislature.
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Coal kills more people annually than it employs, Nevada restores solar net-metering, Los Angeles tests subsidized electric-car-sharing in low-income neighborhoods, and more news of the week in climate and clean energy.
Following Portland and Multnomah County, our region can and will lead the way towards 100% clean energy.
Teardown of Chevy Bolt reveals it costs $4,600 less to manufacture than analysts had thought, climate action prevails at two shareholder meetings, and more news of the week in climate and clean energy.
Tesla starts taking orders for solar roofing, Green Party may hold balance of power over BC fossil projects, GOP fails to reverse Obama-era methane rules, and more news of the week in climate and clean energy.
Climate advocates join business leaders to celebrate a sensible expansion of subsidies for low-carbon and zero-carbon driving options.
Nuclear giant Westinghouse goes bankrupt, clean energy employs over twice as many Americans as fossil fuels, cheap Midwestern wind could idle 56 GW of coal plants, and more news of the week in climate and clean energy.
It’s no secret that climate progress is having a rough week in Washington, D.C. Here in Washington State, our governor and others have pressed for policies to clean our air and move our state towards a clean-energy economy. So how is climate progress faring in our state legislature?
Shell sells off its stake in Canadian tar sands, US solar installations in 2016 nearly double the previous year, poll shows highest-ever level of American concern for the climate, and more news of the week in clean energy solutions.
Washington State's Utilities and Transportation Commission rarely makes headlines, but it plays a critical role in assessing the growing cost of investments in fossil fuels and its impact on consumers.
The Washington State Legislature is talking about climate: specifically about putting a price on carbon pollution. Can we move from talk to action? Can we win climate and clean energy solutions that are fair, practical and effective? We think that we can, and we are all in.
