Washington
Washington has been a leader in climate policy, most recently passing ambitious climate and environmental justice legislation in 2021.
Legislative Profile
Governor: Jay Inslee (D)
House: Democratic majority
Senate: Democratic majority
U.S. Climate Alliance Member
Key Resources
Washington State Energy Profile — U.S. EIA
Washington Climate Change Portal – Washington Department of Ecology
Building Back Better: Investing in a Resilient Recovery for Washington State — Climate XChange
Emissions Reduction Targets
By 2030:
45%
By 2040:
70%
By 2050:
95%
By 2050:
Net-zero economy
All targets relative to 1990 levels
2019 GHG Emissions By Sector (%)
- Commercial
- Electric
- Residential
- Industrial
- Transportation
- Agriculture
Source: EPA State Inventory Tool (SIT)
Use the + icons in each policy area below to explore climate policy that has been passed at the state level, with links to relevant legislation and trackers. Policies in gray have not yet been passed in this state.
Climate Governance & Equity
Climate Governance
Greenhouse Gas Targets
Emissions Reduction Target
45% by 2030 | 70% by 2040 | 95% by 2050 | net-zero economy by 2050 Relative to 1990 levels
Mandate Source
Mandatory – Chapter 79, Laws of 2020 (2020)
Climate Action Plan
Climate Bureaucracy
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory
Green Bank
Lead by Example
ACEEE Score – 1 out of 1 point**
Public Fleet ZEV Requirements
Executive Order 21-04 (2021) – For the state’s passenger and light-duty vehicle fleet: 40% are BEVs by 2025 | 75% are BEVs by 2030 | 100% are BEVs by 2035
For the state’s medium- and heavy-duty vehicle fleet: 50% are BEVs by 2030 | 75% are BEVs by 2035 | 100% are BEVs by 2040
Equity
Environmental Justice Community Designation
Mandate Source
RCW 70A.02.010 (2021)
Definition
“Overburdened communities” are defined as areas where vulnerable populations face multiple environmental harms and health impacts or risks, including communities whose health is highly impacted by fossil fuel pollution and climate change, and census tracts located on “Indian country”.
Include race? Yes | Include income? Yes | Include pollution burden? Yes
State EJ Mapping Tools
EJ Community Benefit Requirement
SB 5126 (2021) – 35%, with a goal of 40%, of cap-and-invest revenue to overburdened communities and 10% to Indian tribes
EJ Bureaucracy
**The ACEEE Energy Efficiency Scorecard analyzes the policies and programs states adopt to save energy in public sector buildings and transportation fleets. States can earn up to 1 point.
Adaptation & Resilience
Electricity
Renewables and Energy Storage
Greenhouse Gas Targets
Renewable Portfolio Standard
Target
15% renewable by 2020 | 100% greenhouse gas neutral by 2030 | 100% renewable or zero-emitting energy by 2045
Legislation
SB 5116 (2019)
Distributed Generation/Solar Carve-out
SPOT Components – 0 out of 5*
Net Metering
SPOT Components – 8 out of 11*
Energy Storage Standard
SPOT Components – 2 out of 5*
Shared Renewables
SPOT Components – 5 out of 6*
*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.
Grid and Utility Reform
Clean Energy Plan
Grid Modernization Plan
The GridWise Alliance’s Grid Modernization Index (GMI) evaluates and ranks the status of grid modernization efforts across all 50 states and D.C.
50-state Ranking – 22nd
Interconnection Standards
SPOT Components – 6 out of 6*
Utility Green Power Option
SPOT Components – 5 out of 6*
New Utility Business Model Proceeding
SPOT Components – 0 out of 5*
Carbon Pollution Pricing
Buildings & Efficiency
Building Energy Codes
Residential Codes
SPOT Components – 5 out of 6*
Statewide code – Washington State Energy Code (2021)
Commercial Codes
SPOT Components – 4 out of 6*
Statewide code – Washington State Energy Code (2019)
Stretch or Reach Codes
*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.
Efficiency Programs and Incentives
Weatherization Programs
SPOT Components – 4 out of 4*
Energy Auditing Programs
Retrocommissioning Programs
Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE)
SPOT Components – 0 out of 10*
Energy Savings Performance Contracting
SPOT Components – 4 out of 5*
Standards and Market Mechanisms
Energy Efficiency Resource Standard
SPOT Components – 4 out of 5*
Building Performance Standard (BPS)
WAC 194-50 (2020) – Applies to commercial buildings larger than 50,000 square
SB 5722 (2022) – Applies to buildings larger than 20,000 square feet
Appliance Performance Standard (APS)
RCW § 19.260.010 – Appliance standards for 23 products
HB 1619 (2022) – Updates three existing appliance standards and creates three new ones: air purifiers, commercial ovens, and EVSE
Carbon Pollution Pricing
Buildings Data Disclosure
Transportation
Vehicle Standards and Incentives
Low-Emission Vehicle (LEV) Standards
Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandates
EV Sales Requirements
Advanced Clear Cars II – By 2035: 100% of passenger and light-duty vehicles sold in the state are electric vehicles
Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicle (MHDVs) Sales Standards
Washington Advanced Clean Trucks
EV Sales Requirements
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 truck tractor sales are zero-emissions.
Electric Vehicle Incentives
SPOT Components – 2 out of 5*
Charging Infrastructure Incentives
SPOT Components – 2 out of 5*
Carbon Pollution Pricing
Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS)
State Planning and Investment
Greenhouse Gas Targets
Decarbonization Plan
EV and EV Charging Infrastructure Plans
EV Transit Bus Deployment
The ACEEE Transportation Electrification Scorecard analyzes the level of investment and policies states adopt to procure electric transit buses. States can earn up to 6 points.
ACEEE Score – 2 out of 6 points
Bicycle Friendly State
The League of American Bicyclists’ State Report Cards evaluate and rank the safety and efficiency of active transportation systems across all 50 states.
50-state Ranking – 3rd
*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.
Agriculture
Soil Health and Regenerative Agriculture Governance
Mandate Source
SB 6306 (2020)
Task Force Portal or Action Plan
Established the Washington Soil Health Initiative (SHI), a partnership jointly administered by Washington State University, the Washington Department of Agriculture, and the State Conservation Commission (SCC)
Financial Incentives
SB 5947/HB 2095 (2019) – Sustainable Farms and Fields Grant Program
HB 2713 (2020) – Relating to encouraging compost procurement and use
Industry, Materials, and Waste Management
Short-Lived Climate Pollutant (SLCP) Regulations
Carbon Pollution Pricing
Buy Clean Requirements
HB 1080 (2021) – Funds 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