Washington
Governor
Bob Ferguson (Democrat)
House Party
Democratic Majority
Senate Party
Democratic Majority
Electricity market structure
Regulated
Key Offices & Links
47
24
West
Progress by Policy Area
- Enacted Enacted policies have been passed or established in a state by a governing body via legislation, executive orders, rules, regulations, and/or other program creation, and remain in effect.
- In-progress In progress policies have been established in a state, but final regulations, rules, or plans are pending final approval. This also includes legislation and executive orders that require regulations to be put into effect.
- Partially Enacted Partially enacted policies have been enacted in the state, but are missing one or more policy components. Dashboard policies cannot be considered partially enacted unless policy components are available.
- Not Enacted Not enacted policies have not been passed or established in the state or are no longer in effect.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Projections in Washington
Climate Policies in Washington
| Status | Policy | Policy Area | Policy Category | Year Enacted | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| Enacted |
Empty column
All retail sales of electricity to Washington customers must be greenhouse gas neutral by January 1, 2030 Establishing Policies
|
Electricity
|
Energy Plans and Targets | 2019 | |
| Enacted |
Empty column
Washington 2021 State Energy Strategy Establishing Policies
|
Electricity
|
Energy Plans and Targets | 2020 | |
| In-Progress |
Empty column
The Department of Commerce must identify high priority transmission corridors over 10- and 20-year planning periods by October 30, 2027. The Washington Electric Transmission Authority must update that transmission corridor identification study by October 30, 2032 and every 5 years after that. Electric utilities with more than 25,000 customers must develop an integrated resource plan that includes an assessment and 20-year forecast of regional generation and transmission capacity and identify their expected needs to develop new, or upgrade existing, transmission facilities. Establishing Policies
|
Electricity
|
Energy Plans and Targets | ||
| Enacted |
Empty column
In Washington, the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC) has authority over projects larger than 350MW, and smaller projects 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. Establishing Policies
|
Electricity
|
Permitting and Grid Integration | 2023 | |
| Enacted |
Empty column
Washington received a D grade from Freeing the Grid. Establishing Policies
|
Electricity
|
Permitting and Grid Integration | 2023 | |
| In-Progress |
Empty column
The recently established Washington Electric Transmission Authority (WETA) should "encourage advanced transmission technologies that lower wildfire risks," among other goals. WETA will serve as a statewide resource for assisting with the development and coordination of upgrades to existing transmission lines including, but not limited to, reconductoring with advanced conductors. Establishing Policies
|
Electricity
|
Permitting and Grid Integration | 2026 | |
| In-Progress |
Empty column
The Department of Transportation (DOT) has been allocated $150,000 explore alternative uses of highway rights-of-way (ROWs) to address pressing public needs relating to climate change, renewable energy, and electrical transmission and distribution projects, among others. As part of that exploration, the DOT is directed to (1) review the utility accommodation policy and make recommendations to update it to include renewable energy and electrical transmission and distribution projects, and (2) identify existing highway ROWs suitable as designated energy corridors for electric transmission and distribution and other energy infrastructure. The Washington Electric Transmission Authority must maximize the use of existing rights-of-way, including highways, for transmission development. Establishing Policies
|
Electricity
|
Permitting and Grid Integration | 2025 | |
| 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. Establishing Policies
Policy Components
8/11
|
Electricity
|
Permitting and Grid Integration | ||
| 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. Establishing Policies
Policy Components
5/6
|
Electricity
|
Incentivizing Clean Energy Resources | ||
| 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
|
Incentivizing Clean Energy Resources | ||
| 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. Establishing Policies
Policy Components
0/5
|
Electricity
|
Incentivizing Clean Energy Resources | ||
| 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
|
Incentivizing Clean Energy Resources | ||
| 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 |