The first hearing for the proposed low-carbon fuel mandate was last week. HB 1091 would require a reduction in reduction in the carbon-intensity of transportation fuels primarily by mixing biofuels with gasoline and diesel. This policy follows in the steps of California and Oregon, where the program has been more expensive than projected. … [T]wo […]
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LCFS, round 4
For the past four consecutive legislative sessions, lawmakers have introduced proposals to impose a low carbon fuel standard (LCFS) in Washington state. … Much of the discussion during a Jan. 14 public hearing on the bill in the House Committee on Environment & Energy rehashed arguments made in years past by both proponents and critics. […]
WA Energy Strategy says it improves physical fitness, decarbonizes energy, and protects people from earthquakes
*Note: The footnotes indicated in this excerpt can be found on the original blog post at the link below. Decarbonization. Increased physical activity. Energy equity. Protection of communities in the subduction zone. Those are all goals or benefits cited in the energy strategy proposed by the Washington state Department of Commerce. Last Friday we submitted […]
Capital gains tax, LCFS within reach next session
Democrat lawmakers and Governor Jay Inslee for years have sought to enact a variety of tax and regulatory proposals that have failed due to bipartisan opposition from key legislators in both chambers. However, the Nov. 3 election concluded with four incumbents trailing their opponents, which could result in an overall stronger Democrat majority in both […]
Legislature looking to quietly adopt a last-minute carbon tax
The voters have twice rejected carbon taxes and the legislature has consistently refused to adopt a carbon tax or cap-and-trade system. Despite that, a last-minute carbon tax/cap-and-trade bill that skipped the policy committee hearing process is being pushed by some legislators. HB 2957 would give complete authority to the Department of Ecology to create a […]
New Clean Air Rule proposal could be costly for consumers
While scores of truckers, loggers and other stakeholders testified this week against ESHB 1110 which would create a low carbon fuel standard (LCFS), its sponsor Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon (D-34) has also sponsored a new version of previous Clean Air Rule legislation that would give the state Department of Ecology broad authority to authorize an LCFS—and more. The proposal, HB 2957, was […]
Commentary: Clean fuels standard too costly and not effective
… Whether part of a transportation package, or passed on its own, an LCFS should be rejected. An LCFS would be costly, provide negligible reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, and it would do nothing to improve our state’s crumbling transportation infrastructure. In fact, an LCFS would actually threaten transportation funding by adding to fuel costs […]
A gas tax won’t fix climate change. State lawmakers must oppose this low-carbon plan | Editorial
… If ESSHB 1110 — the low-carbon fuel standard bill — gets through this year’s legislative session, then the price at the pump will shoot up and disposable income will go down. For those on a fixed income, this is a horrible scenario. And gas prices won’t be the only concern. The cost of food […]
HB 1110 and SB 5412, the high costs and small environmental benefits of a Low-Carbon Fuel Standard
Key Findings Low-carbon fuel standards (LCFS) have been tried in British Columbia, California, and Oregon and the results consistently show high costs and small environmental benefits. Using existing prices from California, the LCFS in Washington would cost about 36 cents per gallon of gas when fully implemented. The LCFS is also about 29 times as […]
Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce takes political stance against clean fuel bill
MOSES LAKE – Moses Lake’s Chamber of Commerce wasn’t guarded when it revealed its stance against a clean fuel bill it says could be costly to Washingtonians on both sides of the mountains. … “Employers will pay more to get their goods to market. Employees will spend more to get to work. Families will face […]