Signaling that climate change will be a session focus, several climate-related bills have emerged in early action. In addition to the land use and climate change bill that is reported on in our land use section, Sen. Reuven Carlyle (D–Seattle) introduced the Governor’s cap and trade bill, SB 5126, early in the first week of session.

Washington’s Climate Commitment Act

This complex and lengthy bill has 49 pages of climate-related provisions and creates a comprehensive greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction program. SB 5126 also establishes a statewide emissions cap that covers entities whose emissions exceed 25,0000 metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year. The program will initially cover facilities, fuel supplies, and in-state electrical generation, but eventually will include electricity inputs, natural gas distribution, and additional fuel suppliers. Consideration is given to emission-intensive and trade-exposed industries, and a variety of other sectors.

Sectors subject to the cap will need to purchase emissions allowances at auctions operated by the state, with a system to manage price volatility and gradually increase the cost of emitting carbon.

Revenues from auction sales are to be used for the following purposes:

• Cover agencies’ costs to support and administer the program
• Deposited into the state general fund to implement the working families tax rebate in RCW 82.08.0206
• Support clean transportation programs, activities, or projects that reduce transportation-related GHGs
• Promote natural climate resilience solutions that improve the resilience of the state’s waters, forests, and other vital ecosystems to the impacts of climate change, and increase their carbon pollution reduction capacity through sequestration, storage, and overall ecosystem integrity
• Encourage clean energy transition and assistance programs, activities, or projects that assist affected workers or people with lower incomes during the transition to a clean energy economy, or grow and expand clean manufacturing capacity
• Promote emissions reduction projects and programs that yield real, verifiable reductions in GHG emissions in excess of baseline estimates.

We expect that this proposal will go through multiple rounds of revision throughout the session.  If you have perspectives to offer on this bill please share them with Shannon McClelland.

Date to remember

SB 5126 is scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Environment, Energy & Technology Committee on Tuesday, January 19 at 10:30 am.