4 Ways Washington is Successfully Fighting Climate Change
That’s a wrap — 2021 Was Monumental for the Evergreen State
What comes to mind when you think of Washington? (Not D.C.)
The Space Needle piercing a drizzly sky? Subaru-driving, coffee-drinking, Patagonia-wearing hippies? Perhaps Facebook, Microsoft, and Amazon tech bros? Well, those are all stereotypes. Though you’re not wrong.
I think of something different. Nature.
Roughly half of the state is covered by air-purifying evergreen forests. The miles of marine shorelines of the Pacific Coast and Puget Sound could wrap around the Earth and more. The two mountain ranges and five active volcanoes are home to Washington’s glaciers (yeah, we have those). Colorful apples, cherries, and berries grow on orchards and farms across the state. Washington has long been a dreamland for nature-lovers like me.
Not surprisingly, the state is a national leader in environmental policy (up there with California and Oregon). And now, with the increasingly visible impacts of climate change, this is even more the case.
In 2021, Washington made history by taking the boldest action on the climate crisis in the state’s history.
No one outside of the state really heard about Washington’s environmental wins this year, save for the environmental policy nerds like me. So, I’m here to shed light on these hushed achievements.
If you’re like me, the first time you hear about all of these substantial successes in just one year leaves you wondering but why was 2021 so successful for Washington climate policy?
Simple. We in the policy biz would say that the policy window was open. This means that everything — from the right people in the right elected offices to the right frequency of climate problems being discussed, and even the right mood from Washingtonians — aligned practically perfectly. And not only was the policy window open, but advocates, nongovernmental organizations, and policymakers were also ready to take advantage of it.
But first, the impressive package of environmental policies couldn’t have just happened out of the blue. What did Washington do before 2021?
What Did WA Do Before 2021?
Hydropower
Washington’s reputation as a tree-hugging state didn’t start with Priuses in Seattle. It started with hydropower in rural Washington in the late 1800s.
Hydropower puts the state in a unique position — enabling a faster and easier clean energy transition. Nearly 70 percent of Washington’s electricity was generated from renewable sources in July 2021, most of which was hydro. And in Seattle, it’s even more astounding. About 90 percent of the power mix is from renewable energy. (Does that mean I feel 90% less guilty when I accidentally leave a light on in an empty room? Not at all. For better or for worse, that guilt lives with me.)
As states make commitments towards a low-carbon, fossil fuel-free future, Washington is fortunate to have a hydro-powered boost. Other states who don’t have this resource have a steeper hill to climb to get started. But that doesn’t mean Washington’s path has been smooth.
Washington’s (Failed) Carbon Tax
Washington was supposed to provide climate leadership by implementing a carbon tax in 2016. A carbon tax is one of the two most common market mechanisms that puts a price on carbon (the other being cap-and-trade). The carbon tax initiative failed in 2016 with only 41 percent of the vote. Why? Because it was revenue neutral. Revenue from the tax would go back to citizens and businesses. However, environmental justice and climate groups hoped some revenue would be allocated towards climate mitigation and adaptation. So they struck it down.
The legislature tried again in 2018. This time, revenue would go towards climate projects. It failed, just barely. Why? Because the fee’s opponents successfully framed it as a tax that had no visible benefits for Washingtonians.
If a carbon tax can’t succeed as revenue neutral or a climate change-mitigating fee, how can Washington equitably address the climate crisis? Enter the Clean Energy Transformation Act.
Clean Energy Transformation Act (CETA)
CETA passed in 2019 and is the most important energy bill in state history. This law requires state utilities to reach carbon neutrality by 2030 and self-generate 100 percent carbon-free electricity by 2045. (It also contains sexy utility business-model reforms.) Passing CETA was a huge win for environmental justice groups, too. CETA requires that equity be taken into consideration in all future utility planning. This means that before a utility can make any decision, it must first consider the impacts that decision will have on marginalized and vulnerable communities.
Seriously, no state has ever done anything like this.
The Other Stuff
Washington passed a suite of other climate and energy policies in the years leading up to 2021, too, including:
- The Clean Buildings Act, which requires energy efficiency standards for large commercial buildings,
- A budget bill, which funds transportation electrification through tax incentives for electric vehicles, funds for charging stations, and funds to electrify buses,
- A zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) bill, that pushes Washington to adopt California vehicle emission standards, and requires more sales of ZEVs, and,
- A bill that phases out hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), a greenhouse gas one thousand times more potent than carbon dioxide, in refrigeration, heating and cooling, foams, and aerosol products.
With this strong foundation to stand on, here’s what the state is doing next because of what happened in 2021.
Putting a Price on Carbon Pollution (Climate Commitment Act)
It’s one of the most controversial questions among environmentalists: carbon tax or cap-and-trade? After years of failed attempts to establish a statewide carbon tax, Washington tried the other option.
The Climate Commitment Act establishes a cap-and-trade (C&T) system that will put a price on carbon pollution. Without getting into the details, this new multi-sectoral system will initially apply to electricity generators and importers, industrial facilities, natural gas distributors, and certain fuel suppliers. Other facilities will be added later. And get this: 35% of revenues will go to marginalized communities and 10% to Tribal communities.
Not everyone is happy about cap-and-trade’s success over the carbon tax, however, there’s one special key that C&T has: California.
California launched its cap-and-trade system in 2013, giving Washington plenty of time to watch and learn. One of the biggest lessons is all about math. Unlike California, Washington’s C&T offsets are under the cap.
Here’s what that means.
Let’s say in the California C&T system, the statewide carbon emissions limit is 100 tons. If it allows 8 percent of compliance to be met with offsets (such as planting enough trees to take in 8 tons of carbon emissions), the state will issue 100 allowances and 8 offset credits. There are now 108 tons of compliance instruments (allowances + offset credits). So far so good.
However, if the 8 offset credits don’t actually reduce emissions by 8 tons, then California’s C&T system can actually produce up to 108 tons of carbon emissions. That’s above the cap!
So how does Washington keep offsets under the cap?
Now let’s say that Washington has a 100-ton carbon emissions limit and allows 8 percent of compliance via offsets. To stay below the cap, WA will issue 92 allowances and 8 offset credits. If the 8 offsets are bogus, WA will come in at its 100-ton limit. But if the offsets are valid, WA will come in at 92 tons of emissions — below the cap!
Is there industry push back against a lower cap? Of course. Do environmental justice advocates want more revenue to go towards marginalized communities and tribes? Probably. Should natural gas utilities not be given additional allowances? Undoubtedly. Is cap-and-trade perfect? Hell no. And that’s coming from an environmental policy grad student who can be convinced one way or the other with one really good elevator pitch. But after all of this time, perhaps the best thing to do is to just start somewhere.
Creating a Clean Fuels Coast (Clean Fuel Standard)
The West Coast is no stranger to clean fuels rules. In 2009 California adopted its Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS), which is a market-based approach designed to gradually decrease the amount of carbon emitted from the state’s transportation sector. LCFS is also a tested policy that will clean our air, give us more options to fuel our vehicles (such as electricity and local, sustainable biofuels), spur economic development, cut climate pollution from our highest-emitting sector, and move us beyond oil.
Washington now joins California, along with Oregon and British Columbia, in creating a clean fuels coast. Here come some numbers.
The Washington Clean Fuel Standard (CFS) program will require fuel providers to reduce the total carbon intensity (carbon emissions produced per unit of energy of a certain type of fuel) of fuels 10 percent by 2028 and 20 percent by 2035. One of the selling points: it allows fuel providers to meet these targets by any mix of alternative fuels (e.g., electricity, renewable natural gas, advanced biofuels).
Washington also took this opportunity to showcase its working commitment towards equity and environmental justice. With such few fossil fuel power plants and other polluting industries near populated areas, Washington communities with the highest pollution burden live along the major highways (Heard of I-5?). The CFS will minimize this burden. Under the CFS, all utilities must spend 50% of their revenue earned on transportation electrification projects in the state.
The Clean Fuel Standard doesn’t yet cover the aviation or ports industries. Until then, this will be a fun transition to watch.
Helping People Buy EVs (Clean Cars 2030)
One day when I have an electric car. Maybe in 10 years if I can afford a Tesla. My next car will be electric.
Have you heard these sentiments? They are the wishful thoughts of partaking in the clean energy transition someday. Washington is fast-tracking that future.
The new “Clean Cars 2030” bill mandates that all passenger vehicles and light-duty vehicles purchased and registered in Washington be electric starting in 2030. This bill acknowledges that nearly half of greenhouse gas emissions in Washington are from the transportation sector. It gets better. Not only will the state embrace the widespread adoption of EVs, this bill also will enhance charging infrastructure and spur local job creation.
Okay. I can’t talk about this bill without also mentioning that it was technically vetoed by Governor Jay Inslee. But wait until you hear why.
Governor Inslee has long been a climate advocate in the political sphere. He didn’t veto the Clean Cars 2030 bill because he believes that the clean energy transition is a bad idea. He vetoed it because the bill was amended to tack on a per-mile vehicle charge. This is a charge intended to collect revenue from EV drivers who no longer contribute to the state gas tax (you know, money for that sweet sweet asphalt). The per-mile vehicle charge is controversial because it requires the state to track how many miles individuals drive, and it leaves some to wonder if it tracks where they drive.
“Transportation is our state’s greatest source of carbon emissions, and we cannot afford to link an important goal like getting to 100% zero-emission vehicles to a separate policy that will take time to design and implement.”
— WA Governor Jay Inslee
So, Governor Inslee vetoed Clean Cars 2030. He’s fine with banning gas-powered cars, but he doesn’t like the linkage with the per-mile vehicle charge. I fully expect to see an even better version of Clean Cars 2030 reappear (and hopefully pass) in 2022.
And now for the cherry on top.
Centering Environmental Justice and Racism (The HEAL Act)
The Healthy Environment for All (HEAL) Act centers communities most affected by pollution during Washington’s clean energy transition. The HEAL Act is monumental because of one small thing. It defines environmental justice in state law.
“Environmental justice” means the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, rules, and policies. [It] includes addressing disproportionate environmental and health impacts in all laws, rules, and policies with environmental impacts by prioritizing [overburdened communities], the equitable distribution of resources and benefits, and eliminating harm.”
While this definition is just a couple of sentences in the law, it is a crucial first step that has been historically overlooked in climate and environmental policy. The HEAL Act also outlines how agencies should consider communities and EJ in their work, establishes a permanent EJ Council to work with agencies and help create legislation, and expands equitable community participation.
It will not only be a helpful tool for the state but is one long past due.
Bringing It All Together
Putting a price on carbon pollution, creating a clean fuels coast, helping people buy EVs, all while centering environmental justice and racism. This package of innovative and cohesive legislation will help Washington successfully fight climate change. And we’ll do so by looking into the future, but not so much so that we blind ourselves from what can be done in the present.
Cap-and-trade is fantastic for the long-term. However, what’s so great about these 2021 bills is that the other three address the short-term. It’s absolutely crucial for climate policies to advance short-term solutions. This is where we can build momentum in areas where otherwise, market forces might leave us stagnant.
Unfortunately, that policy window I mentioned earlier will likely close after next year. This is for two primary reasons. First, the Washington legislature will likely change in the 2022 elections, making it harder to pass environmental legislation. Second, policymakers who voted yes for all these great bills in 2021 may pat themselves on the back, think they already did what they needed to do for the climate, and move on to addressing one of the many other issues that crosses their desk.
What Washington State has achieved this year has been monumental. The Build Back Better Act’s failure to include the Clean Electricity Performance Program, which would have set the nation on an ambitious path for 100% clean electricity, was in part modeled on what has been achieved in the Pacific Northwest.
2022 is looking to be another good year for Washington climate policy. When the policy window ultimately closes at the end of next year, we must not become complacent. We must hold our policymakers accountable to ensure that these bills do what they were supposed to do, and that they don’t pat themselves on the back and then turn their back.
The fight goes on. But as we bring in the new year and pop some corks of champagne, I’d say Washingtonians should give a cheer towards the environmental successes of 2021.
Charlee has a B.S. in environmental engineering from the University of Illinois and a M.P.A. in environmental policy from the University of Washington. She currently works as a policy associate for the Northwest Energy Coalition in Washington State. She writes on sustainability, diversity, and fitness.
