Although a low carbon fuel standard (LCFS) bill reintroduced from last session and passed by the state House appears to be going nowhere in the Senate, the general idea could still move forward as proponents continue to push the policy on a variety of fronts. After clearing the House on Jan. 29 in a 52-44 […]
News Stories
Capitol Dispatch: Local lawmakers oppose clean fuel standard
A clean fuel standard intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from cars, trucks and other vehicles passed out of the state House on Wednesday and was sent to the Senate, where the same bill stalled last session. All four representatives from the 19th and 20th Legislative Districts voted against the measure, saying it could increase […]
State House Passes Bill That Would Up Gas Tax $.57 Cents-Or More
House Republicans, and five Democrats, voted against HB (house bill) 1110, which would create what are called California style low carbon fuel standard. That means there would be mandated changes or modifications to gas sold in our state. The end result? To pay for those modifications the gas tax would rise anywhere from $.57 to […]
LCFS proposal “destroys our competitiveness”
The state House has voted 52-44 in favor of a low carbon fuel standard (LCFS) program via HB 1110; introduced last year and at that time approved by the chamber 53-43, the legislation reached the Senate Transportation Committee before it was referred back to the House. The vote this session was preceded by hours-long impassioned […]
LCFS, round three
Though state lawmakers for the past two years have unsuccessfully tried to enact a low carbon fuel standard (LCFS) in an effort to reduce transportation sector carbon emissions, some have decided to take another run at implementing the policy. A Jan. 16 public hearing of the previous proposal’s companion bill [SB 5412] in the Senate […]
Farmers see pitfalls in low-carbon fuel mandate
OLYMPIA — Several farmers told legislators Thursday that lowering the fossil-fuel content in gasoline and diesel will raise their transportation, equipment and labor costs. Clark County, Wash., farmer Kevin Dobbins said small engines need more maintenance if fueled by an ethanol-gasoline mix and that a mandate on fuel suppliers to mix in more non-fossil fuels […]
Inslee draws a line in the battle on clean fuels law
OLYMPIA — Gov. Jay Inslee badly wants a clean fuels standard in Washington. He came close nine months ago but legislation he embraced and House Democrats approved lapsed in the Senate Transportation Committee. … The same moderate Democrat, Sen. Steve Hobbs of Lake Stevens, is running the transportation committee. And he still views a low […]
Policy fights, political tension loom for state lawmakers
Another transportation matter is Inslee’s push for a low carbon fuel standard. On this, the governor will run into opposition from Hobbs. House Democrats passed a bill last year that died in the Senate Transportation Committee. “I think it is much more likely to pass this Legislature this year,” Inslee said Thursday at the Associated […]
Puget Sound LCFS could cost $900 per household
While the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency (PSCAA) considers a low carbon fuel standard (LCFS) within four counties, Governor Jay Inslee’s newly released proposed operating budget includes a similar LCFS proposal and $1.5 million in funding to implement the plan. It marks the third time legislators have looked at the idea which is already in […]
Low-carbon fuel standard, requirements for ride-hailing companies among Gov. Inslee’s climate proposals
… The governor, during a morning news conference in Olympia, asked the Legislature to pass a low-carbon fuel standard, a requirement for ride-hailing companies to reduce their greenhouse-gas emissions, a bill to create a zero-emission vehicle program and legislation to “align Washington’s emission targets with the latest science,” which would make them more ambitious. An […]