Tri-Cities Wash. — This week for the first time in history, Washington has the highest gas prices in the country, today we talked to the Association of Washington Business, which says the recently passed Climate Commitment Act, could be playing a part in higher prices. The Department of Ecology says businesses like Tesoro, and the […]
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Washington law to cap carbon emissions causes higher prices at the pump
STATE LINE, Idaho — Many Washington drivers are heading to Idaho for cheaper gas, as gas stations near State Line are nearly a dollar less per gallon than in Eastern Washington. As gas prices continue to rise, drivers say it’s putting a squeeze on them once again. “It’s horrible. It’s a joke. I just can’t […]
WA gas prices now highest in U.S.; experts point to new climate legislation
Washington unseated California this week as the state with the most expensive gasoline. Prices here have been steadily climbing since January, reaching $4.91 per gallon of regular gas on average this week, surpassing the Golden State, the longtime national leader at the pump, according to a Seattle Times analysis of retail pump prices compiled by […]
Washington law to cap carbon emissions causes higher prices at the pump
STATE LINE, Idaho — Many Washington drivers are heading to Idaho for cheaper gas, as gas stations near State Line are nearly a dollar less per gallon than in Eastern Washington. As gas prices continue to rise, drivers say it’s putting a squeeze on them once again. “It’s horrible. It’s a joke. I just can’t […]
Washington gas prices top U.S. as carbon fee takes hold
Washington has moved past California to have the most expensive gasoline in the U.S., a surge coinciding with Washington’s cap-and-trade carbon fee almost doubling California’s. … Cap-and-trade has added another element to gas prices. Oil companies must buy one “allowance” for every ton of carbon released when their products are combusted. Unlike a tax, carbon […]
Tensions, gas prices rise as Washington state auctions carbon
Washington state’s new cap-and-invest system is raising hundreds of millions of dollars for climate action while pricing emissions at a much steeper cost than California, the only other state with this kind of system. Climate hawks are thrilled that — after years of failed proposals — the Evergreen State has a path to meet the […]
Washington’s carbon fee rises, trips emergency valve to hold down costs
Washington’s carbon fee rose by 15% at the state’s second cap-and-trade auction, the Department of Ecology reported Wednesday, and is high enough to turn on an emergency valve to contain energy costs. Energy companies and investors bought nearly 8.6 million allowances for $56 apiece at the May 31 auction. The price exceeded the $51.90 threshold […]
Washington’s carbon fee rises, trips emergency valve to hold down costs
Washington’s carbon fee rose by 15% at the state’s second cap-and-trade auction, the Department of Ecology reported Wednesday, and is high enough to turn on an emergency valve to contain energy costs. Energy companies and investors bought nearly 8.6 million allowances for $56 apiece at the May 31 auction. The price exceeded the $51.90 threshold […]
Ecology quietly scrubs the gas price impacts of CO2 tax from their web page
Even as Washington’s gas prices have increased compared to neighboring states, staff at the Washington State Department of Ecology have repeatedly downplayed the impact of the state’s new tax on CO2 emissions. Last year, when asked about the impact on gas and diesel, Governor Inslee claimed, “This is going to have a minimal impact, if […]
Tribes ramp up pressure on WA over gas prices as climate laws’ effects take hold
LUMMI RESERVATION — Leaders from at least a dozen Washington tribes may soon meet with Gov. Jay Inslee’s administration to raise concerns and ask questions about the effects of the state’s new carbon-cap system on gas prices and tribal sovereignty. Some say they’re taken aback by how much the system seems to be driving up […]