By Phuong Le and Rachel La Corte
The Associated Press
SEATTLE — Washington state is inching toward a requirement to reduce carbon pollution from fuels for cars and trucks with a proposal released recently.
But even as the state Department of Ecology on last Wednesday outlined a preliminary draft rule requiring cleaner transportation fuels similar to California’s law, agency officials said no decision has been made yet on whether to actually propose such a rule.
The low-carbon fuel standard requires fuel producers to reduce the carbon emissions associated with their products by 10 percent over 10 years.
Fuel producers could develop cleaner-burning fuels, mix gasoline with alternative fuels such as biodiesel, or buy credits from other companies.
Supporters say it reduces pollution, offers consumers more fuel choices and jump starts investment in new fuels.
The idea is to cut greenhouse gas emissions from driving, which accounts for about 47 percent of the state’s carbon emissions.
Critics say it will raise gasoline prices and hurt consumers. They say there isn’t the technological innovation or adequate supply of low-carbon fuels to meet the targets.
Gov. Jay Inslee last month directed Ecology to draft a rule and get comments from legislators and others. But he said he wants feedback before starting a formal rule-making process.
Republican lawmakers have urged Inslee not to take executive action on the issue.
Meanwhile, a group of senators led by Sen. Doug Ericksen, R-Ferndale, last Wednesday unveiled a package of bills that Ericksen said would keep energy prices low while also reducing carbon pollution.
One bill would give the state’s largest electric utilities an alternative way to comply with a law requiring them to get more electricity from wind, solar and other renewable sources.
Another bill requires the state to seek bids to convert the state’s ferry fleet from diesel to liquefied natural gas, and another offers tax incentives to build small modular nuclear reactors.
Ericksen is sponsoring Bill 5735 that would allow utilities to meet their targets under Initiative 937 by investing in carbon reduction.