West

Washington

Washington has been a leader in climate and environmental justice policy, especially with the passage of the ambitious Climate Commitment Act and the Healthy Environment for All (HEAL) Act in 2021. The state’s emissions decreased by 10% from 1990-2021, compared to their target of 45% below 1990 levels by 2030. The majority of in-state electricity is generated by renewables, and the state is the top hydroelectric power producer, providing over one-fifth of the country’s hydroelectric power.
GHG Reduction Targets
All targets relative to 2005 levels
2030 :

45%

2040 :

70%

2050 :

95%

2050 :

Net-zero economy

Governor
Jay Inslee (Democrat)
House Party
Democratic Majority
Senate Party
Democratic Majority
Legislative session
1/8/24 - 3/7/24
US Climate Alliance Status
Member

37

Policies Enacted or In Progress
across 7 policy areas

25

Policy Opportunities
across 6 policy areas

West

11 states
This map shows the occurrence of climate policies passed at the state-level. Higher numbers represent more climate policies enacted.

Progress by Policy Area

  • Enacted
  • In-progress
  • Partially Enacted
  • Not Enacted
Glossary of Terms
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Greenhouse Gas Emissions Projections in Washington

Created in partnership with
Filters
Status Policy Policy Area Policy Category YR Enacted
Enacted
Empty column

45% by 2030 | 70% by 2040 | 95% by 2050 | net-zero economy by 2050

Relative to 1990 levels

Establishing Policies
Climate Governance and Equity
Climate Governance 2020
Enacted
Empty column

Washington State Energy Strategy

Climate Governance and Equity
Climate Governance 2020
Enacted
Empty column

The 1990-2019 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory was published in December 2022.

Climate Governance and Equity
Climate Governance 2022
Not Enacted
Empty column

Climate bureaucracy consists of dedicated climate offices and staff, interagency working groups, task forces, and other bodies made up of government staff. These bodies are often responsible for writing a state's climate plan and implementing the policies and strategies identified to meet its climate targets.

Climate Governance and Equity
Climate Governance
Not Enacted
Empty column

Climate advisory bodies often write or advise on a state's climate plan, and make non-binding recommendations on climate policy design and implementation. The bodies can consist of all non-government members, or be a mix of government and non-government members.

Climate Governance and Equity
Climate Governance
Enacted
Empty column

"Overburdened communities" are areas that (1) receive a 9 or 10 ranking out of 10 on the Washington Environmental Health Disparities (EHD) Map, are census block groups in the 90th percentile on the U.S. EPA's EJScreen, or are on Tribal land; (2) have an elevated level of at least one criteria air pollutant; and (3) meet the threshold for at least one of 8 indicators related to air pollution exposure, health impacts, or vulnerability.

Establishing Policies
Climate Governance and Equity
Environmental Justice and Equity 2021
Enacted
Empty column

Washington Environmental Health Disparities Map

Climate Governance and Equity
Environmental Justice and Equity 2019
Enacted
Empty column

At least 35%, with a goal of 40%, of cap-and-invest revenue must benefit overburdened communities and and at least 10% to investments formally supported by Indian tribes.

Establishing Policies
Climate Governance and Equity
Environmental Justice and Equity 2021
Enacted
Empty column

Department of Ecology – Office of Equity & Environmental Justice

Department of Ecology – Environmental Justice & Title VI Senior Advisor

DOH – Environmental Justice Council Staff

DOT – Environmental Justice Staff

Climate Governance and Equity
Environmental Justice and Equity 2021
Enacted
Empty column

Environmental Justice Council

Establishing Policies
Climate Governance and Equity
Environmental Justice and Equity 2021
Not Enacted
Empty column

Cumulative impact assessments determine the health and environmental impacts of renewing or granting a permit for certain pollution-generating facilities in environmental justice communities. Increased pollution burdens in communities may result in the permit application being denied.

Climate Governance and Equity
Environmental Justice and Equity
Not Enacted
Empty column

Just transition plans are documents that outline policies and recommendations aimed at supporting communities, workers, and industries affected by the transition away from fossil fuels. The plans often focus on workforce development and retraining, job creation, and economic diversification.

Climate Governance and Equity
Just Transition
Not Enacted
Empty column

Just transition offices and staff assist workers and communities transitioning away from fossil fuel extraction and use, typically through retraining programs and support with relocation and economic diversification. Offices and staff also coordinate with other state agencies to effectively design policy to achieve a just transition.

Climate Governance and Equity
Just Transition
Not Enacted
Empty column

Just transition advisory bodies write or advise on a state's just transition plan or report, and make recommendations on ways to support affected workers, communities, and industries. The bodies can consist of all non-government members, or be a mix of government and non-government members.

Climate Governance and Equity
Just Transition
Not Enacted
Empty column

Just transition funds support initiatives and investments aimed at facilitating the equitable transition of workers and communities affected by shifts in industries or policies that transition from fossil fuels.

Climate Governance and Equity
Just Transition
Not Enacted
Empty column

Green banks are public, quasi-public, or non-profit entities that use innovative financing to invest in climate solutions and attract private capital across various economic sectors.

Cross-Sector
Climate Finance
Enacted
Empty column

Washington's Cap-and-Invest Program covers the electricity, buildings, transportation, and industrial sectors, covering around 75% of state emissions.

Cross-Sector
Carbon Valuation 2023
Enacted
Empty column

Electrical and gas companies must incorporate the social cost of carbon in utility resource planning.

Establishing Policies
Cross-Sector
Carbon Valuation 2019
Enacted
Empty column

15% renewable energy by 2020 | 100% greenhouse gas neutral by 2030 | 100% renewable or zero-emitting energy by 2045

Establishing Policies
Electricity
Energy Plans and Targets 2019
Not Enacted
Empty column

Electricity greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets are set by a state to limit GHG emissions in the electricity sector. These targets aim to reduce emissions by different amounts over time, often expressed as percentage relative to a baseline year.

Electricity
Energy Plans and Targets
Enacted
Empty column

Washington 2021 State Energy Strategy

Electricity
Energy Plans and Targets 2020
Not Enacted
Empty column

The State Policy Opportunity Tracker (SPOT) breaks clean energy policies down into “components”, which are binary questions to evaluate policy quality. Higher quality policies have more of their SPOT components fulfilled.

Policy Components
not-enacted
not-enacted
not-enacted
not-enacted
not-enacted
0/5
Electricity
Clean Energy Generation
Partially Enacted
Empty column

The State Policy Opportunity Tracker (SPOT) breaks clean energy policies down into “components”, which are binary questions to evaluate policy quality. Higher quality policies have more of their SPOT components fulfilled.

Policy Components
enacted
enacted
enacted
not-enacted
not-enacted
not-enacted
enacted
enacted
enacted
enacted
enacted
8/11
Electricity
Clean Energy Generation
Partially Enacted
Empty column

The State Policy Opportunity Tracker (SPOT) breaks clean energy policies down into “components”, which are binary questions to evaluate policy quality. Higher quality policies have more of their SPOT components fulfilled.

Policy Components
enacted
not-enacted
enacted
enacted
enacted
enacted
5/6
Electricity
Clean Energy Generation
Not Enacted
Empty column

Community choice aggregation allows local governments to procure power on behalf of their residents, businesses, and municipal accounts from an alternative supplier while still receiving transmission and distribution service from their existing utility provider.

Electricity
Clean Energy Generation
Not Enacted
Empty column

Energy storage targets establish procurement targets for energy storage systems by a certain date, often with interim targets. Targets can vary from broad megawatt (MW) requirements to more specific mandates that focus on the adoption of certain storage technologies.

Electricity
Transmission, Distribution, and Energy Storage
Enacted
Empty column

Washington received a D grade from Freeing the Grid.

Electricity
Transmission, Distribution, and Energy Storage 2023
Enacted
Empty column

Requires utilities to phase out coal-fired electricity from their state portfolios by 2025.

Establishing Policies
Electricity
Coal Retirement 2019
Not Enacted
Empty column

Coal securitization is a financing tool that allows utility companies to refinance debt they issued to build coal plants and close the facilities early without taking a financial hit or passing costs on to ratepayers.

Electricity
Coal Retirement
Enacted
Empty column

The statewide energy code for residential construction is the Washington State 2021 Energy Code.

Buildings and Efficiency
Building Codes 2024
Enacted
Empty column

The statewide energy code for commercial building construction is the Washington State 2021 Energy Code.

Buildings and Efficiency
Building Codes 2023
Not Enacted
Empty column

Stretch building energy codes are an optional, more stringent building code established by the state that local jurisdictions can adopt to require that newly constructed buildings are more efficient than the baseline state codes.

Buildings and Efficiency
Building Codes
Enacted
Empty column

The Appliance Efficiency Standards apply to 21 products.

Buildings and Efficiency
Building Standards 2022
Enacted
Empty column

The Clean Buildings Performance Standard applies to buildings larger than 20,000 square feet.

Buildings and Efficiency
Building Standards 2022
Not Enacted
Empty column

Clean heat standards establish a performance standard requiring heat providers to deliver a gradually-increasing percentage of low-emission heating services to customers.

Buildings and Efficiency
Building Standards
Enacted
Empty column

Electric and gas utilities are subject to utility-specific energy savings targets, as approved by the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission.

Buildings and Efficiency
Building Efficiency 2019
Enacted
Empty column

Washington has enacted commercial PACE-enabling legislation and has active programs.

Establishing Policies
Buildings and Efficiency
Building Efficiency 2020
Enacted
Empty column

The State Policy Opportunity Tracker (SPOT) breaks clean energy policies down into “components”, which are binary questions to evaluate policy quality. Higher quality policies have more of their SPOT components fulfilled.

Policy Components
enacted
enacted
enacted
enacted
4/4
Buildings and Efficiency
Building Efficiency
Enacted
Empty column

The state energy code offer builders incentives in the permitting process for choosing electric heat pumps instead of natural gas furnaces.

Buildings and Efficiency
Building Electrification 2024
Enacted
Empty column

Washington Clean Cars

Transportation
Light-Duty Vehicles 2022
Enacted
Empty column

Model Year (MY) 2026: 35% of new passenger vehicle sales are ZEVs | MY 2030: 68% of new sales are ZEVs | MY 2035: 100% of new sales are ZEVs, with up to 20% being hybrid or hydrogen-powered vehicles.

Transportation
Light-Duty Vehicles 2022
Not Enacted
Empty column

Electric vehicle rebates offer rebates to make light-duty electric vehicles more affordable to increase their adoption in a state.

Transportation
Light-Duty Vehicles
Enacted
Empty column

The Low NOx Omnibus Rule applies to Model Year 2026 onwards.

Establishing Policies
Transportation
Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles 2022
Enacted
Empty column

By 2035: 55% of Class 2b-3 truck sales are zero-emissions | 75% of Class 4-8 straight truck sales are zero-emissions | 40% of Class 7-8 tractor sales are zero-emissions.

Transportation
Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles 2022
Not Enacted
Empty column

Medium- and heavy-duty (MHD) electric vehicle rebates consist of programs and policies that offer rebates to make MHD electric vehicles more affordable to increase their adoption in a state.

Transportation
Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles
Enacted
Empty column

40% of the state's passenger and light-duty vehicle fleet are battery EVs by 2025 | 75% are BEVs by 2030 | 100% are BEVs by 2035

50% of the state's medium- and heavy-duty vehicle fleet are BEVs by 2030 | 75% are BEVs by 2035 | 100% are BEVs by 2040

Establishing Policies
Transportation
Lead by Example 2021
Not Enacted
Empty column

Electric bus procurement targets require that a certain percentage or number of school buses and/or transit buses purchased or leased by the state, transit authorities, and/or school districts must be electric or zero-emissions.

Transportation
Lead by Example
Not Enacted
Empty column

Electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure requirements establish mandates for the installation of EV charging infrastructure in new construction or developments, such as residential or commercial buildings, and public parking lots.

Transportation
EV Charging Infrastructure
Not Enacted
Empty column

Electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure rebates offer rebates to make the purchase and/or installation costs of EV charging infrastructure more affordable.

Transportation
EV Charging Infrastructure
Not Enacted
Empty column

Electric vehicle (EV) and EV charging infrastructure plans are documents that provide a framework to guide the development, coordination, and adoption of EVs and EV charging infrastructure.

Transportation
Transportation Plans and Targets
Not Enacted
Empty column

Transportation greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets are set by a state to limit emissions in the transportation sector. These targets aim to reduce emissions by specific amounts over time, often expressed as a percentage reduction from a baseline year.

Transportation
Transportation Plans and Targets
Enacted
Empty column

Washington Clean Fuel Standard

Transportation
Transportation Plans and Targets 2021
Enacted
Empty column

Washington is ranked 3rd out of 50 in the 2022 Bicycle Friendly State rankings by the League of American Bicyclists.

Policy Components
enacted
enacted
enacted
enacted
enacted
5/5
Transportation
Public and Active Transportation
Enacted
Empty column

The state has funded the creation of a database to track building materials purchased for state-funded infrastructure projects and two large Buy Clean and Buy Fair pilot projects.

State contractors must report on large construction projects, including suppliers’ declarations on environmental, health, and working conditions for covered products, such as concrete, steel, and engineered wood. The Department of Commerce must convene a working group to recommend policies to increase production and use of low-carbon construction materials.

Industry, Materials, and Waste Management
Industrial Decarbonization 2024
Enacted
Empty column

The state prohibits the use of certain HFCs in refrigeration equipment, air conditioning chillers, aerosol propellants, and foams that are manufactured or used in Washington.

Industry, Materials, and Waste Management
F-gas Regulations 2021
Enacted
Empty column

Electric power entities that import or deliver electricity equivalent to or greater than 10,000 metric tons of CO2e must report their emissions

Establishing Policies
Industry, Materials, and Waste Management
F-gas Regulations 2010
Not Enacted
Empty column

Oil and gas methane regulations include phasedown commitments, reporting requirements, leak detection and repair, or other measures that reduce methane emissions from oil and gas production.

Industry, Materials, and Waste Management
Oil and Gas Regulations
Enacted
Empty column

Hydraulic fracking for the exploration and production of natural gas is banned.

Establishing Policies
Industry, Materials, and Waste Management
Oil and Gas Regulations 2019
Enacted
Empty column

Landfill owners and operators must install gas collection and control equipment, energy recovery devices, and/or treatment and processing systems to reduce their methane emissions. The rule requires quarterly monitoring of the landfill surface, quarterly monitoring of gas collection and control system equipment, and a timeline to ensure any methane leaks are quickly fixed.

Industry, Materials, and Waste Management
Waste Management 2024
Enacted
Empty column

Food waste target – 75% reduction by 2030, relative to 2015 levels.

Establishing Policies
Industry, Materials, and Waste Management
Waste Management 2022
Enacted
Empty column

The Sustainable Farms and Fields Grant Program and the Washington Soil Health Initiative provide financial assistance and free services to help implement climate-smart practices and projects that increase carbon sequestration and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Natural and Working Lands
Agriculture 2020
Enacted
Empty column

The Sustainable Farms and Fields Grant Program provides technical assistance and free services to help implement climate-smart practices and projects that increase carbon sequestration and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The Washington Soil Health Initiative provides technical assistance, policy support, research, outreach, and education to promote healthy soils practices.

Natural and Working Lands
Agriculture 2020

The State Climate Policy Dashboard tracks only passed policies and does not include bills currently proposed in legislative sessions. The website is intended to illustrate the current status of policies for each state, as well as key resources and model states for each policy.

Much of the information contained in this database is derived from the public domain, with links to resources provided. The information provided is made available solely for general information purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Click here for full Terms of Use.

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