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 State Green Bank

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

In Washington, the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC) has authority over projects larger than 350MW, and smaller porjects may opt into that process as well. Once a developer opts into the state's siting process, planners and local officials are relegated to the role of interested parties. State authorities will likely often give serious consideration to well-founded local concerns, but they aren't obligated to reject a project just because it doesn't meet local zoning requirements.

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 23 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.

A TENs pilot program for gas utilities requires proposal submissions within 12 months of June 2024 and construction within 30 months. The Department of Commerce can distribute $25M in grants to gas utilities to cover the costs of building and operating the pilots.

Electric, gas, and public utilities can own and operate thermal energy networks, and gas utilities are permitted to fulfill their “obligation to serve” through thermal energy networks, subject to commission approval. Electric utilities will be able to provide discounted rates to companies operating thermal energy networks under certain conditions and with authorization from the Utilities and Transportation Commission.

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 Washington Electric Vehicle Instant Rebates program provides rebates for new and used EVs: $5,000 for the purchase of a new EV, between $5,000-$9,000 for a new, leased EV, and $2,500 for leased or purchased EVs.

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 requires a carbon intensity reduction for transportation fuels of 45 percent below 2017 levels by 2038, with interim targets between 2023-2037.

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. The state prohibits the sale of bulk hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) with a global warming potential (GWP) of 1,500 by 2030 and 750 by 2033. A Refrigerant Transition Task Force has been created to study the transition to low- and ultra-low GWP refrigerants by 2035.

State agencies can’t purchase HFC products unless alternatives are not cost effective or technologically feasible.

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.

Food waste ban – The state requires businesses to compost if they produce more than 8 cubic yards of food waste by 2024, 4 cubic yards by 2025, and 96 gallons by 2026. By 2027, municipalities with over 25,000 residents are required to provide curbside composting

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. Priority projects include those that enhance soil carbon; integrate native vegetation into agricultural lands; reduce carbon, nitrous oxide, and methane emissions; support efficiency and reduced fuel use; and support pollinator habitats.

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. Priority projects include those that enhance soil carbon; integrate native vegetation into agricultural lands; reduce carbon, nitrous oxide, and methane emissions; support efficiency and reduced fuel use; and support pollinator habitats.

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