Washington

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

Relative to 1990 levels

Washington State Energy Strategy

The 1990-2021 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory was published in December 2024.

"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.

Washington Environmental Health Disparities Map

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.

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

Environmental Justice Council

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

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

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

All retail sales of electricity to Washington customers must be greenhouse gas neutral by January 1, 2030

Washington 2021 State Energy Strategy

Washington received a D grade from Freeing the Grid.

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

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

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

The Appliance Efficiency Standards apply to 21 products.

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

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

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

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.

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

Washington Clean Cars

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.

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

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.

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

Washington Clean Fuel Standard

Washington is ranked 1st out of 50 in the 2024 Bicycle Friendly State rankings by the League of American Bicyclists.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.