The entire world faces an existential threat when it comes to climate change, but Washington has been a leader across the United States in passing innovative policies that will help our state prepare and adapt. We still have plenty of work ahead to ensure our state’s natural resources are protected for generations to come, but we have taken massive steps in the right direction.
Notable policies of the past decade include the Clean Buildings and Clean Energy Transformation acts (2019), zero emissions vehicle standards (2020), low carbon fuel standard (2021), Climate Commitment Act (2021), and Move Ahead Washington transportation package (2022). With ongoing updates to cap and invest, clean fuels, and utility decarbonization efforts, these laws have made Washington a national and global leader in climate policy.
Washington’s natural environment is full of oceans, rainforests, dense woods, and ecosystems that encourage a diverse array of wildlife, but we must act now to protect them for the next generations. Over the last two years, we’ve passed policies that help us toward that goal by:
- Allowing utilities to collaborate on developing, owning, and operating energy facilities and transmission infrastructure to meet growing clean energy demand and improve grid reliability (HB 1253).
- Reducing carbon emissions in the transportation sector by strengthening clean fuels rules and encouraging investments in biofuels and electric vehicle charging infrastructure (HB 1409).
- Helping stabilize energy prices and coordinate with California and Québec to reduce greenhouse gas emissions more efficiently (HB 1975).
- Requiring the Department of Ecology and Department of Commerce to release data on greenhouse gas emissions so Washington can continue tracking the effects of emissions-reduction policies in the absence of federal leadership (SB 5036).
- Incentivizing utilities to invest in clean energy and encouraging the installation of solar panels on irrigation canals, parking lots, agricultural lands, and more (SB 5445).
- Requiring the Department of Ecology to publicly report sewage spills to keep communities informed and safe from contaminated waterways (HB 1670).
- Requiring per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — also known as PFAS or “forever chemicals” — testing in biosolids and directing the Department of Ecology to set testing guidelines to protect soil, agriculture, and natural ecosystems (SB 5033).
- Allowing utilities to issue bonds to cover the cost of rebuilding infrastructure after disasters like wildfires, helping alleviate the cost burden for customers (HB 1990).
- Making it easier for people and small repair businesses to access the parts, tools, software, and repair information they need to fix electronic devices, ultimately lowering repair costs, increasing access to refurbished electronics, and helping reduce electronic waste in Washington (HB 1483).
- Requiring manufacturers of mobility devices — such as wheelchairs — to provide the information and tools necessary for repairs (SB 5680).
- Establishing the Washington Electric Transmission Authority to support the expansion of of our state’s energy grid (SB 6355).
- Making it easier for utilities to make energy efficiency upgrades for rental housing (HB 2296).