People over pollution: Inslee unveils 2024 policies building on landmark climate achievements
Legislative proposals would increase accountability for Big Oil; link Washington’s carbon market with California and Quebec; phase out methane gas; and put new climate dollars to work in neighborhoods and communities across Washington
The year 2023 has already been the most expensive in terms of damage from extreme weather events that cost more than $1 billion each. From Hawaii to Florida, that’s a record 25 climate disasters totaling $58 billion in damages. And the year isn’t even over.
The overwhelming burden of these disasters is borne by communities. As the threat of calamity becomes more frequent, Washingtonians expect their elected leaders to address climate change, adapt to new conditions and phase out the biggest contributor to climate change: fossil fuels.
Gov. Jay Inslee on Monday unveiled his 2024 climate agenda that continues the state’s action to protect Washingtonians from climate change and create clean energy jobs. Well over 100 students, laborers, business owners, Tribal leaders, legislators and people from communities overburdened by pollution joined to rally in support of Washington’s unwavering commitment to fighting climate change.
Inslee highlighted three policy proposals aimed at oil company accountability, strengthening the state’s cap-and-invest program to facilitate connecting it with others, and phasing out methane gas. He also previewed how new Climate Commitment Act funds will be put to work in neighborhoods and communities across Washington.
“We’re going to protect our children’s lungs by converting diesel buses to electric and upgrading schools to improve air quality. We’re going to make sure affordable multifamily housing has clean and efficient energy, so our most vulnerable communities can live comfortably while reducing their utility bills,” Inslee said of the Climate Commitment Act investments. “We’re installing thousands of EV chargers across the state. We’re partnering with communities to design and develop sustainable neighborhoods. We’re enabling Tribes to decarbonize as well. And we’re assisting hundreds of thousands of Washingtonians with their electricity bills.”
Earlier this year, the Legislature allocated $2.1 billion in CCA revenue for the 2023–25 biennium. CCA funding supports a broad range of projects and programs in communities across Washington. Examples include free transit for all youth under 18, thousands of new EV charging stations, heat pumps and cost-saving weatherization improvements for thousands of low-income households, electric school buses, and strategies to attract world-leading clean tech companies who are putting Washingtonians to work.
For the 2024 legislative session, Inslee will roll out his proposal for how to use new CCA revenue to:
· Grow clean energy businesses and good-paying jobs for Washingtonians.
· Reduce pollution in communities burdened by poor air and water quality.
· Slash the greenhouse gas emissions that are changing our climate.
· Help 750,000 households cut down on energy costs with a $200 utility bill credit.
The Climate Commitment Act requires that at least 35% of funds be invested in projects that benefit overburdened communities, and a minimum of 10% go to projects with Tribal support.
The full details of the governor’s proposed supplemental budget will be made public Wednesday, Dec. 13.
Oil industry accountability
Since long before Washington’s climate policies were enacted, the West Coast and Washington have seen dramatic swings in gas prices. Oil companies have sharply raised prices at the pump while making record profits.
In 2022, five oil giants made a record-breaking $200 billion in profits. Yet, gas prices are simply a black box to consumers, allowing the oil industry to charge consumers whatever they like and keeping them tied to extraordinary spikes and dips in prices.
The governor supports legislation that would bring transparency to how oil companies set prices and make it possible to protect consumers from price gouging or other unfair pricing practices.
The law would require the Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) to gather reporting of detailed pricing, profit margin, and transaction data held by fuel suppliers, refinery operators, and others in the transportation fuels supply chain. The UTC would then analyze and report to the governor, Legislature, and public on that data, including retail fuel prices and the profits of the industry as a whole and major firms within it.
Among the proposal’s other measures is a provision that would protect consumers from corporate “greenwashing,” when companies make false claims about their climate commitments to manipulate consumers.
“We’ve got to have accountability for these oil companies that are making record profits while gouging consumers at the pump,” said bill sponsor Sen. Joe Nguyễn. “This legislation will bring transparency to what’s happening with gas prices so that we can monitor for abuses and respond to bad actors, and the corporations who polluted our air and water need to bear the cost of the environmental and physical damage they caused. If Big Oil is taking advantage of Washingtonians, they’ll be in big trouble.”
Linking Washington’s carbon market with California and Quebec
With passage of the CCA, Washington became only the second state with a cap-and-invest program after California. California and Quebec linked their programs in 2014, creating one shared carbon market. Linked markets reduce compliance costs for businesses while also increasing price stability. This helps those businesses make long-term plans to reduce their emissions.
“Our aim is to maintain the strength of our program, protect the commitments we have made to overburdened communities, while providing more price stability inherit in being part of a larger market,” said Rep. Beth Doglio, sponsor of the methane decarbonization legislation.
The CCA was designed with eventual linkage in mind, and this bill would take the next steps necessary to put Washington on that path. It makes technical changes to the CCA that make linking markets a more seamless and successful process.
The Department of Ecology is requesting legislation to facilitate linking. The legislation is part of a process that includes discussing with California and Québec how the programs could be connected. The process also includes an environmental justice assessment and opportunities for public input. The soonest Washington could operate as part of a linked market would likely be late 2025.
“We will maintain Washington’s forward progress in the fight against climate change and for a clean energy future in the session to come,” said House Majority Leader Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon. “We will invest in projects that improve air quality and reduce cost of living for Washingtonians, improve the Climate Commitment Act so it is ready to link with other jurisdictions allied in the fight for a safe climate, and enact new policies to save Washingtonians money by freeing them from reliance on dirty, expensive fossil fuels.”
Phasing out methane gas
As oil companies continue to raise prices, gas utility customers may see their bills increase. Those who have the means to switch to highly efficient electric alternatives will do so, while cash-strapped Washingtonians and renters are left with the cost of maintaining aging gas infrastructure.
Doglio’s House Bill 1589 will limit future methane gas use and set a pathway for the state’s largest gas utility to responsibly sunset its gas infrastructure. This will better enable Washingtonians to transition to zero-emission energy alternatives while maintaining grid reliability and affordability, particularly for low-income ratepayers.
The future is now
Fossil fuel interests and those who would deny the urgency of the climate crisis want to erode these policies at the expense of Washingtonians who will benefit from cleaner air and water, home energy assistance, and a growing economy built on prosperous sustainability. It’s a policy fight that will continue year in and year out, but Inslee has laid a foundation that will continue transforming the state and leading the nation on climate and clan energy.
“We are doing the hard work necessary to defend Washington state from climate change and usher in a clean and equitable energy future along with it,” Inslee told the crowd Monday. “This work takes each and every one of you here to get it done. Thank you for caring about your future and your children’s future and your grandchildren’s future. Let’s go get ‘em.”
