Washington House passes updates to Clean Fuel Standard

In a vote of 54-to-41, the Washington State House of Representatives voted March 10 to pass HB 1409, a bill concerning the state’s Clean Fuel Standard, bolstering Washington’s effort to reduce transportation emissions and further invest in the transition to electric.

HB 1409 will strengthen the current CFS, launched in 2023, with greater pollution reductions and higher reinvestments into support for clean transportation.

This will include more reinvestments in electric-vehicle (EV) charging and incentives from utilities, local job creation, and cleaner choices for Washington consumers with a better market for EV charging companies to install public charging in Washington and increased sustainable biofuels. 

Transportation is still Washington’s largest source of climate pollution, responsible for 40 percent of total emissions.

The CFS, part of a massive year in climate legislation in 2021, is Washington’s best go at reducing transportation pollution and transitioning to cleaner vehicles—it requires transportation fuels like gas and diesel used across the state to become cleaner over time, while also investing in low-carbon biofuels and expanding EV charging.

By 2034, the current CFS could reduce Washington’s greenhouse-gas emissions by 4 million metric tons annually.

The update that passed the House could possibly double these pollution reductions. 

When the Washington Legislature passed the CFS in 2021, the state aligned with existing CFS programs in California, Oregon and British Columbia to create a “clean-fuels coast.” 

The CFS was also designed to help spur local economic development and promote using local cleaner, low-carbon fuels rather than relying on out-of-state oil, subject to the volatility of global fuel market pricing.

Washington drivers send roughly $9 billion out of state every year through gasoline purchases—more locally made and available fuels, including electricity and renewable diesel, can help make cleaner transportation fuels more cost-effective for Washington drivers.

Even small businesses like local restaurants often benefit from clean-fuels programs.

They can take part of private biofuel companies’ used fryer grease collection programs that turn the old cooking oil into low-carbon renewable diesel that is “drop-in” ready for larger engines that typically run on diesel alone. 

“Everyone can be proud that Washington continues to clean up our air, strengthen and reinvest in our state’s economy, and increase choices for Washington drivers and businesses by doubling down on the clean-fuels program,” said Leah Missik, the acting Washington director of Climate Solutions.

HB 1409 is now anticipated to head to the Senate Environment, Energy & Technology Committee for its first Senate hearing.