OLYMPIA, Wash. — Secretary of State Steve Hobbs delivered a notification to the Legislature on Monday that six initiatives, including carbon tax credit trading, have been granted provisional certification.
Initiative no. 2117 aims to prohibit all state agencies from implementing any type of carbon credit trading, also known as “cap and trade” or “cap and tax” scheme.
Back on Dec. 11, Governor Jay Inslee asked the Washington Legislature to spend nearly $1 billion in 2024 to fight against climate change. As part of his climate agenda he had three policy proposals aimed at oil company accountability, strengthening the state’s cap-and-invest program and attempting to phase out methane gas.
Also, the Department of Ecology requested legislation to facilitate linking with California and Québec to discuss how their programs could be connected. Their goal is to be linked in late 2025.
Initiative no. 2117 would go against the climate commitment act previously codified as chapter 70A.65 RCW, would go against Inslee’s 2024 climate agenda and prevent the Department of Ecology from linking with California and Québec .
It would essentially repeal the law that puts a limit on greenhouse gas emissions for oil companies and utilities.
This measure will go to the Legislature to either approve it or send it to voters. If lawmakers reject this measure or take no action, it will appear on the next general election ballot for voters in Washington.
Supporters of this initiative say that 70A.65 RCW is the primary reason why gas prices skyrocketed this past year. According to the Department of Ecology, The average tax on CO2 in 2023 ended up at $54.74 per metric ton, which equates to about 43 cents per gallon of gasoline and 53 cents per gallon for diesel.
As a result, there is a high chance that Washington residents may see the impact of the tax on CO2 emissions increase in 2024.
The Legislature may also pass an alternative proposal to accompany an initiative on the ballot.
With this initiative, there are five others that will go to the Legislature:
Initiative to the Legislature no. 2081 concerning parental rights relating to their children’s public school education.Initiative to the Legislature no. 2109 concerning taxes.Initiative to the Legislature no. 2111 concerning taxes.Initiative to the Legislature no. 2113 concerning vehicular pursuits by police officers.Initiative to the Legislature no. 2124 concerning state long term care insurance.
For more information, go to the Washington Secretary of State website.
