OLYMPIA, Wash. – Spokane’s leadership is partnering with representatives to put forward a bill in Olympia to advocate for their Waste to Energy Facility.
Under the state’s Climate Commitment Act, CO2 producers face an additional tax, which could result in an $8 million bill for the Spokane facility in 2027. This cost may be passed on to consumers.
Spokane City Councilmember Paul Dillon explained that the $8 million tax could be transferred to residents.
Dillon also explained that the potential bill stems from the Cap and Invest program in the Climate Commitment Act, which taxes CO2 emitters. While landfills are excluded from this tax, Spokane’s Waste to Energy Facility is not.
Spokane is advocating for a bill that would allow the facility to make changes to reduce CO2 emissions without incurring the hefty tax. During the 2025 legislative session, Spokane introduced a bill to exempt the entire facility, which Council Member Paul Dillon referred to as a “Hail Mary.”
Dillon said the current bill is designed to align with the state’s climate goals over time. Dillon highlighted the disparity between the tax exemption for landfills and the lack of exemption for the Spokane facility. He noted that landfills produce more CO2 over time.
If the bill fails to pass, Dillon explained that one option is to decommission the facility and transport waste to the Adams County landfill, which is the nearest option. However, this would also be costly for consumers.
Dillon emphasized Spokane’s commitment to advocating for the bill in the next 60 days.
“This is an all hands on deck moment,” Dillon said. “We have to do everything we can to get this legislation passed.”
