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 1990 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

Key Offices & Links

37

Policies Enacted or In Progress

across 7 policy areas

See all

25

Policy Opportunities

across 6 policy areas

See all

West

11 states

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

Compare with other states

Progress by Policy Area

Enacted
In-progress
Partially Enacted
Not Enacted

Glossary of Terms

Status	Policy	Policy Area	Policy Category	YR Enacted
Enacted	Commercial Energy Codes Empty column The statewide energy code for commercial building construction is the Washington State 2021 Energy Code. Establishing Policies Washington State Energy Code (2023)	Buildings and Efficiency	Building Codes	2023
Enacted	Residential Energy Codes Empty column The statewide energy code for residential construction is the Washington State 2021 Energy Code. Establishing Policies Washington State Energy Code (2024)	Buildings and Efficiency	Building Codes	2024
Not Enacted	Stretch Building Energy Codes 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	Appliance Standards Empty column The Appliance Efficiency Standards apply to 21 products. Establishing Policies RCW § 19.260 (2019) HB 1619 (2022) Appliance Standards	Buildings and Efficiency	Building Standards	2022
Enacted	Building Performance Standards Empty column The Clean Buildings Performance Standard applies to buildings larger than 20,000 square feet. Establishing Policies HB 1257 (2019) Chapter 194-50 WAC (2020) SB 5722 (2022) Clean Buildings Performance Standard	Buildings and Efficiency	Building Standards	2022
Not Enacted	Clean Heat Standards 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	Energy Efficiency Resource Standards (EERS) Empty column Electric and gas utilities are subject to utility-specific energy savings targets, as approved by the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission. Establishing Policies RCW 19.285.040 (2006) RCW 80.28.380 (2019) Company Conservation Programs	Buildings and Efficiency	Building Efficiency	2019
Enacted	Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Empty column Washington has enacted commercial PACE-enabling legislation and has active programs. Establishing Policies HB 2405 (2020)	Buildings and Efficiency	Building Efficiency	2020
Enacted	Weatherization Funding 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. Establishing Policies SPOT - Weatherization Funding in Washington Policy Components enacted enacted enacted enacted 4/4	Buildings and Efficiency	Building Efficiency
Enacted	All-Electric Buildings Empty column The state energy code offer builders incentives in the permitting process for choosing electric heat pumps instead of natural gas furnaces. Establishing Policies 2021 Washington State Energy Code (2024)	Buildings and Efficiency	Building Electrification	2024

Washington

Key Offices & Links

37

25

West

Progress by Policy Area

Climate Governance and Equity

Cross-Sector

Electricity

Buildings and Efficiency

Transportation

Industry, Materials, and Waste Management

Natural and Working Lands

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Projections in Washington