The legislature finds that climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing our state and the world today, an existential crisis with major negative impacts on environmental and human health. Washington is experiencing environmental and community impacts due to climate change through increasingly devastating wildfires, flooding, droughts, rising temperatures and sea levels, and ocean acidification. Greenhouse gas emissions already in the atmosphere will increase impacts for some period of time.
In 2020, the legislature updated the state's greenhouse gas emissions limits that are to be achieved by 2030, 2040, and 2050, based on current science and emissions trends, to support local and global efforts to avoid the most significant impacts from climate change. While these limits beneficially guide the implementation of all other state laws and policies that have an impact on greenhouse gas emissions in the state, meeting these limits will require coordinated, comprehensive, and multisectoral implementation of policies, programs, and laws, as currently enacted systems approaches are insufficient to meet the limits.
The legislature further finds that while climate change is a global problem, there are communities that have historically borne the disproportionate impacts of environmental burdens and that now bear the disproportionate negative impacts of climate change. Although the state has done great work in the past to highlight these environmental health disparities, beginning with senator Rosa Franklin's environmental equity study, and continuing through the work of the governor's interagency council on health disparities, the creation of the Washington environmental health disparities map, and recommendations of the environmental justice task force, the state can do much more to ensure that state programs address environmental equity.
The legislature further finds that while enacted carbon policies can be well-intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide environmental benefits to communities, the policies may not do enough to ensure environmental health disparities are reduced and environmental benefits are provided to those communities most impacted by environmental harms from greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions.
Therefore, in establishing a program to ensure that the state's 2030, 2040, and 2050 greenhouse gas emissions limits are achieved, the legislature intends to ensure that overburdened communities and vulnerable populations are no longer overlooked in the establishment of environmental policies. Under the program, the legislature intends to identify overburdened communities where the highest concentrations of greenhouse gas emissions and criteria pollutants occur, determine the sources of those emissions and pollutants, and ensure that emissions or concentration reductions are achieved in those communities. The legislature further intends to conduct an environmental justice assessment to ensure that funds and programs created under this chapter provide direct and meaningful benefits to vulnerable populations and overburdened communities. The legislature further intends to establish an environmental justice and equity advisory panel to provide recommendations for the development and implementation of the program, the distribution of funds, and the establishment of programs, activities, and projects to achieve environmental justice and environmental health goals. The legislature further intends to create and adopt community engagement plans and tribal consultation frameworks in the administration of the program to ensure equitable practices for meaningful community and federally recognized tribal involvement. Finally, the legislature intends to establish this program to contribute to a healthy environment for all of Washington's communities.
The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
"Allowance" means an authorization to emit up to one metric ton of carbon dioxide equivalent. An allowance is not a property right.
"Allowance price containment reserve" means an account maintained by the department with allowances available for sale through separate reserve auctions at predefined prices to assist in containing compliance costs for covered and opt-in entities in the event of unanticipated high costs for compliance instruments.
"Annual allowance budget" means the total number of greenhouse gas allowances allocated for auction and distribution for one calendar year by the department.
"Asset controlling supplier" means any entity that owns or operates interconnected electricity generating facilities or serves as an exclusive marketer for these facilities even though it does not own them, and has been designated by the department and received a department-published emissions factor for the wholesale electricity procured from its system. The department shall use a methodology consistent with the methodology used by an external greenhouse gas emissions trading program that shares the regional electricity transmission system. Electricity from asset controlling suppliers is considered a specified source of electricity.
"Auction" means the process of selling greenhouse gas allowances by offering them up for bid, taking bids, and then distributing the allowances to winning bidders.
"Auction floor price" means a price for allowances below which bids at auction would not be accepted.
"Auction purchase limit" means the limit on the number of allowances one registered entity or a group of affiliated registered entities may purchase from the share of allowances sold at an auction.
"Biomass" means nonfossilized and biodegradable organic material originating from plants, animals, and microorganisms, including products, by-products, residues, and waste from agriculture, forestry, and related industries as well as the nonfossilized and biodegradable organic fractions of industrial waste, including gases and liquids recovered from the decomposition of nonfossilized and biodegradable organic material.
"Biomass-derived fuels," "biomass fuels," or "biofuels" means fuels derived from biomass that have at least 50 percent lower greenhouse gas emissions based on a full life-cycle analysis when compared to petroleum fuels.
"Carbon dioxide equivalent" means a measure used to compare the emissions from various greenhouse gases based on their global warming potential.
"Carbon dioxide removal" means deliberate human activities removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and durably storing it in geological, terrestrial, or ocean reservoirs, or in products. "Carbon dioxide removal" includes existing and potential anthropogenic enhancement of biological or geochemical sinks and including, but not limited to, direct air capture and storage and carbon mineralization, but excludes natural carbon dioxide uptake not directly caused by human activities.
"Climate commitment" means the process and institutional mechanism established pursuant to this act for the state to achieve the statewide greenhouse gas limits established in RCW 70A.45.020 by certain dates.
"Climate resilience" is the ongoing process of anticipating, preparing, and adapting to changes in climate and minimizing negative impacts to our natural systems, infrastructure, and communities. For natural systems, increasing resiliency involves restoring and increasing the health, function, and integrity of our ecosystems and improving their ability to absorb and recover from climate-driven disturbances. For communities, increasing resiliency means enhancing their ability to understand, prevent, adapt, and recover from climate impacts to people and infrastructure.
"Compliance instrument" means an allowance or offset credit issued by the department or by an external greenhouse gas emissions trading program to which Washington has linked its greenhouse gas emissions cap and invest program. One compliance instrument is equal to one metric ton of carbon dioxide equivalent.
"Compliance obligation" means the requirement to turn into the department the number of compliance instruments equivalent to a covered or opt-in entity's covered emissions during the compliance period.
"Compliance period" means the four-year period for which the compliance obligation is calculated for covered entities.
"Comprehensive program" means the governance structure established pursuant to this act to carry out the state's greenhouse gas limits in RCW 70A.45.020, ensure a coordinated and strategic approach to advancing climate resilience and environmental justice, and achieving an equitable and inclusive transition to a carbon-neutral economy.
"Cost burden" means the impact on rates or charges to customers of electric utilities in Washington state for the incremental cost of electricity service to serve load due to the compliance cost for greenhouse gas emissions caused by the program.
"Covered emissions" means the emissions for which a covered entity has a compliance obligation under section 9 of this act.
"Covered entity" means a person that is designated by the department as subject to sections 7 through 21 of this act.
"Cumulative impact" means the combined, multiple environmental harms and health impacts on a vulnerable population or overburdened community.
"Department" means the department of ecology.
"Electricity importer" means:
For electricity that is scheduled with a NERC e-tag to a final point of delivery inside the state of Washington, the electricity importer is identified on the NERC e-tag as the purchasing-selling entity on the last segment of the tag's physical path with the point of receipt located outside the state of Washington and the point of delivery located inside the state of Washington;
For facilities physically located outside the state of Washington with the first point of interconnection to a Washington balancing authority's transmission and distribution system when the electricity is not scheduled on a NERC e-tag, the electricity importer is the facility operator or owner or scheduling coordinator;
For electricity imported through a centralized market, the electricity importer will be defined by rule consistent with the definition in rules required under section 9(2)(a) of this act;
For electricity from facilities allocated to serve retail electricity customers of a multijurisdictional electric company, the electricity importer is the multijurisdictional electric company;
If the importer identified under (a) of this subsection is a federal power marketing administration over which the state of Washington does not have jurisdiction, and the federal power marketing administration has not voluntarily elected to comply with the program, then the electricity importer is the next purchasing-selling entity in the physical path on the NERC e-tag, or if no additional purchasing-selling entity over which the state of Washington has jurisdiction, then the electricity importer is the electric utility that operates the Washington transmission or distribution system, or the generation balancing authority; or
If the importer identified under (b) of this subsection is a federal power marketing administration over which the state of Washington does not have jurisdiction, and the federal power marketing administration has not voluntarily elected to comply with the program, then the electricity importer is the electric utility that operates the Washington transmission or distribution system, or the generation balancing authority.
"Emissions containment reserve allowance" means a conditional allowance that is withheld from sale at an auction by the department or its agent to secure additional emissions reductions in the event prices fall below the emissions containment reserve trigger price.
"Emissions containment reserve trigger price" means the price below which allowances will be withheld from sale by the department or its agent at an auction, as determined by the department by rule.
"Emissions threshold" means the greenhouse gas emission level at or above which a person has a compliance obligation.
"Environmental benefits" means activities that:
Prevent or reduce existing environmental harms or associated risks that contribute significantly to cumulative environmental health impacts;
Prevent or mitigate impacts to overburdened communities and vulnerable populations from, or support community response to, the impacts of environmental harm; or
Meet a community need identified by an overburdened community or vulnerable population that is consistent with the intent of this chapter.
"Environmental harm" means the individual or cumulative environmental health impacts and risks to communities caused by historic, current, and projected:
Exposure to pollution, conventional or toxic pollutants, environmental hazards, or other contamination in the air, water, and land;
Adverse environmental effects, including exposure to contamination, hazardous substances, or pollution that increase the risk of adverse environmental health outcomes or create vulnerabilities to climate impacts; and
Health and economic impacts from climate change.
"Environmental impacts" means environmental benefits or environmental harms, or the combination of environmental benefits and harms, resulting from a proposed action.
"Environmental justice" means the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. This includes addressing disproportionate environmental and health impacts in all laws, rules, and policies with environmental impacts by prioritizing vulnerable populations and overburdened communities, equitably distributing resources and benefits, and eliminating harm.
"Environmental justice assessment" means using an intersectional lens to address disproportionate environmental and health impacts in all laws, rules, and policies with environmental impacts by prioritizing vulnerable populations in overburdened communities, equitably distributing resources and benefits, and eliminating harm.
"External greenhouse gas emissions trading program" means a government program, other than Washington's program created in this chapter, that restricts greenhouse gas emissions from sources outside of Washington through emissions trading.
"Facility" means any physical property, plant, building, structure, source, or stationary equipment located on one or more contiguous or adjacent properties in actual physical contact or separated solely by a public roadway or other public right-of-way and under common ownership or common control, that emits or may emit any greenhouse gas.
"First jurisdictional deliverer" means the owner or operator of an electric generating facility in Washington or an electricity importer.
"General market participant" means a registered entity that is not identified as a covered entity or an opt-in entity that is registered in the program registry and intends to purchase, hold, sell, or voluntarily retire compliance instruments.
"Greenhouse gas" has the same meaning as in RCW 70A.45.010.
"Holding limit" means the maximum number of allowances that may be held for use or trade by a registered entity at any one time.
"Imported electricity" means electricity generated outside the state of Washington with a final point of delivery within the state, but which did not originate from any jurisdiction with which Washington has a linkage agreement.
"Imported electricity" includes electricity from an organized market, such as the energy imbalance market.
Electricity from a system that is marketed by a federal power marketing administration shall be construed as "imported electricity," not electricity generated in the state of Washington.
"Imported electricity" does not include electricity imports of unspecified electricity that are netted by exports of unspecified electricity to any jurisdiction not covered by a linked program by the same entity within the same hour.
For a multijurisdictional electric company, "imported electricity" includes electricity from facilities that contribute to a common system power pool that are allocated to serve retail load in Washington pursuant to a cost allocation methodology approved by the utilities and transportation commission.
"Leakage" means a reduction in emissions of greenhouse gases within the state that is offset by a directly attributable increase in greenhouse gas emissions outside the state and outside the geography of another jurisdiction with a linkage agreement.
"Limits" means the greenhouse gas emissions reductions required by RCW 70A.45.020.
"Linkage" means a bilateral or multilateral decision between greenhouse gas market programs to accept compliance instruments issued by a participating jurisdiction to meet the obligations of regulated entities in a partner jurisdiction and to otherwise coordinate activities to facilitate operation of a joint market.
"Linkage agreement" means a nonbinding agreement that connects two or more greenhouse gas market programs and articulates a mutual understanding of how jurisdictions will work together to facilitate a connected greenhouse gas market.
"Multijurisdictional electric company" means an investor-owned utility that provides electricity to customers in Washington and in one or more other states in a contiguous service territory or from a common power system.
"NERC e-tag" means North American electric reliability corporation (NERC) energy tag representing transactions on the North American bulk electricity market scheduled to flow between or across balancing authority areas.
"Offset credit" means a tradable compliance instrument that represents an emissions reduction or emissions removal of one metric ton of carbon dioxide equivalent.
"Offset project" means a project that reduces or removes greenhouse gases that are not covered emissions under this chapter.
"Offset protocols" means a set of procedures and standards to quantify greenhouse gas reductions or greenhouse gas removals achieved by an offset project.
"Overburdened community" means a geographic area where vulnerable populations face combined, multiple environmental harms and health impacts and includes, but is not limited to, highly impacted communities as defined in RCW 19.405.020.
"Person" has the same meaning as defined in RCW 70A.15.2200(5)(h)(iii).
"Point of delivery" means a point on the electricity transmission or distribution system physically located in Washington where a power supplier delivers electricity. This point may be an interconnection with another system or a substation where the transmission provider's transmission and distribution systems are connected to another system, or a distribution substation where electricity is imported into the state over a multijurisdictional retail provider's distribution system.
"Program" means the greenhouse gas emissions cap and invest program created by and implemented pursuant to this chapter.
"Program registry" means the data system in which covered parties, opt-in entities, and general market participants are registered and in which compliance instruments are recorded and tracked.
"Registered entity" means a covered entity, opt-in entity, or general market participant that has completed the process for registration in the program registry.
"Resilience" is the ability to prepare, mitigate and plan for, withstand, recover from, and more successfully adapt to adverse events and changing conditions, and reorganize in an equitable manner that results in a new and better condition.
"Retire" means to permanently remove a compliance instrument such that the compliance instrument may never be sold, traded, or otherwise used again.
"Supplier" means a supplier of fuel in Washington state as defined in RCW 70A.15.2200(5)(h)(ii).
"Transfer" means to transfer an allowance or compliance instrument to the department, either to meet a compliance obligation or on a voluntary basis.
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"Vulnerable populations" means population groups that may be more likely to have adverse health outcomes in response to environmental harms, due to: (i) Adverse socioeconomic factors, such as unemployment, high housing and transportation costs relative to income, limited access to nutritious food and adequate health care, linguistic isolation, and other factors that negatively affect health outcomes and increase vulnerability to the effects of environmental harms; and (ii) sensitivity factors, such as low birth weight and higher rates of hospitalization.
"Vulnerable populations" includes, but is not limited to, racial or ethnic minority, low-income populations disproportionately impacted by environmental harms or pollution, and populations of workers experiencing environmental risks.
To ensure that the program created in sections 7 through 21 of this act achieves reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and other criteria pollutants in overburdened communities highly impacted by air pollution, the department must:
Utilize the department of health's environmental health disparities map and complementary data to identify a high priority list of overburdened communities where the highest emissions or concentrations of greenhouse gas emissions and criteria pollutants are occurring; and
Within the identified communities, analyze and determine which covered entities are the greatest sources of emissions and criteria pollutants and develop a high priority list of emitters.
Using the lists developed in subsection (1) of this section, the department must track greenhouse gas emissions and criteria pollutants in the identified overburdened communities.
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Beginning in 2025, and every two years thereafter, the department must conduct a review to determine if greenhouse gases and criteria pollutants are being reduced in the overburdened communities identified under subsection (1) of this section.
If this review finds that greenhouse gases and criteria pollutants are not being reduced in any identified overburdened community, then the department, in consultation with local air pollution control authorities, must identify the covered entities that are the sources of those emissions that are either increasing or not decreasing and:
Adopt, along with local air pollution control authorities, stricter air quality standards, emission standards, or emissions limitations; or
Reduce offset limits as established in section 17 of this act for any covered entity identified under this subsection (3)(b); or
Revise any linkage agreement necessary to ensure reductions of emissions by any covered entity identified under this subsection (3)(b).
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In developing the lists under subsection (1) of this section, the department must create and adopt a community engagement plan to describe how it will engage with overburdened communities and vulnerable populations in:
Identifying high priority communities and emitters in those communities; and
Tracking and evaluating greenhouse gases and criteria pollutant emissions in those areas.
The plan must include methods for outreach and communication with those who face barriers, language or otherwise, to participation.
When allocating funds from the climate investment account created in section 23 of this act or administering grants or programs funded by the account, agencies shall conduct an environmental justice assessment and establish a minimum of not less than 35 percent and a goal of 40 percent of total investments that provide direct and meaningful benefits to vulnerable populations within the boundaries of overburdened communities identified in section 3 of this act through: (a) The direct reduction of environmental burdens in overburdened communities; (b) the reduction of disproportionate, cumulative risk from environmental burdens, including climate change; (c) the support of community led project development, planning, and participation costs; or (d) meeting a community need identified by vulnerable members of the community that is consistent with the intent of this chapter.
The environmental justice assessment must adhere to the following principles: (a) Benefits and programs should be directed to areas and targeted to vulnerable populations and overburdened communities to reduce statewide disparities; (b) investments and benefits should be made proportional to the health disparities that a specific community experiences to eliminate the disparities; (c) investments and programs should focus on creating environmental benefits, including eliminating health burdens, creating community and population resilience, and raising the quality of life of those in the community; and (d) efforts should be made to balance investments and benefits across the state and within counties, local jurisdictions, and unincorporated areas as appropriate to reduce disparities by location and to ensure efforts contribute to a reduction in disparities that exist based on race or ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or other factors.
Agencies allocating funds or administering grants or programs from the climate investment account must:
Report annually to the environmental justice and equity advisory panel in section 5 of this act and the office of equity regarding progress toward meeting environmental justice and environmental health goals; and
Consider recommendations by the environmental justice and equity advisory panel developed under section 5(3) of this act; and
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Create and adopt a community engagement plan to describe how it will engage with overburdened communities and vulnerable populations in allocating funds or administering grants or programs from the climate investment account.
The plan must include methods for outreach and communication with those who face barriers, language or otherwise, to participation.
The office of equity shall establish an environmental justice and equity advisory panel to provide recommendations to the legislature, agencies, and the governor in the development and implementation of the program established in sections 7 through 21 of this act, and the programs funded from the climate investment account created in section 23 of this act.
The office of equity must convene the environmental justice and equity advisory panel by January 1, 2023. The office of equity may seek nominations or recommendations from organizations across the state representing the interests specified in this section. Members of the panel must be selected for geographic and organizational diversity and must include the following:
Individuals representing the interests of vulnerable populations residing in overburdened communities in different geographic areas of the state with expertise in environmental justice and equity issues;
Individuals representing union labor with expertise in economic dislocation, clean energy economy, or emissions-intensive, trade-exposed facilities;
At least two members representing federally recognized tribes, with at least one from eastern Washington and one from western Washington; and
The chair appointed under subsection (4) of this section.
The purpose of the panel is to:
Provide recommendations to the legislature, agencies, and the governor in the development of:
The program established in sections 7 through 21 of this act including, but not limited to, linkage agreements with other jurisdictions, protocols for establishing offset projects and securing offset credits, and administration of allowances under the program; and
Investment plans and funding proposals for the programs funded from the climate investment account for the purpose of providing environmental benefits and reducing environmental health disparities within overburdened communities identified under section 3 of this act;
Provide a forum to analyze policies adopted under this chapter to determine if the policies lead to improvements within overburdened communities identified under section 3 of this act;
Recommend procedures and criteria for evaluating programs, activities, or projects for review;
Recommend copollutant emissions reduction goals in overburdened communities;
Evaluate the level of funding provided to assist vulnerable populations, low-income individuals, and impacted workers and the funding of projects and activities located within or benefiting overburdened communities;
Recommend environmental justice and environmental health goals for programs, activities, and projects funded from the climate investment account, and review agency annual reports on outcomes and progress toward meeting goals;
Provide recommendations to implementing agencies for meaningful consultation with vulnerable populations, including community engagement plans under sections 3 and 4 of this act; and
Recommend how to support public participation through capacity grants for participation.
The governor shall appoint a chair, subject to confirmation by the senate, who is responsible for overseeing the duties of the environmental justice and equity advisory panel. The chair is paid a salary fixed by the governor in accordance with RCW 43.03.040. If a vacancy occurs in the position of the chair while the senate is not in session, the governor shall make a temporary appointment until the next meeting of the senate at which time the governor shall present to that body the governor's nomination for the position.
The environmental justice and equity advisory panel shall meet on a schedule established by the office of equity, in consultation with the department, to allow for timely and substantive input into processes and decisions consistent with its purpose.
The office of equity shall provide all administrative and staff support for the environmental justice and equity advisory panel.
The environmental justice and equity advisory panel constitutes a class one group under RCW 43.03.220. Expenses for this group must be included in costs to support and administer the program and are an allowable expense under section 23(2)(a) of this act.
In consultation with the office of equity and the environmental justice council, the governor may administratively address how to effectively coordinate the work of the environmental justice and equity advisory panel with the work of the environmental justice council, to ensure efficient operations and policy alignment across state environmental justice work, subject to enactment of chapter . . . (Substitute Senate Bill No. 5141), Laws of 2021.
Before allocating funding or administering grant programs appropriated from the climate investment account, agencies must engage in consultation with federally recognized tribes on all funding decisions and programs that may impact, infringe upon, or impair the governmental efforts of federally recognized tribes to adopt or enforce their own standards governing or protecting the tribe's resources or other rights and interests in their tribal lands and lands within which a tribe or tribes possess rights reserved by treaty. The consultation shall occur pursuant to chapter 43.376 RCW and is independent of any public participation process required by state law, or by a state agency, and regardless of whether the agency receives a request for consultation from a federally recognized tribe. Agencies shall develop a consultation framework in coordination with tribal governments that includes best practices, protocols for communication, and collaboration with federally recognized tribes.
If any funding decision or program that impacts lands within which a tribe or tribes possess rights reserved by federal treaty, statute, or executive order is undertaken or funded under this act without such consultation with a federally recognized tribe, an affected tribe may request that all further action on the decision or program cease until meaningful consultation with any directly impacted federally recognized tribe is completed.
In order to ensure that greenhouse gas emissions are reduced consistent with the limits established in RCW 70A.45.020, the department must implement a cap on greenhouse gas emissions from covered entities and a program to track, verify, and enforce compliance through the use of compliance instruments.
The program must consist of:
Annual allowance budgets that limit emissions from covered entities, as provided in this section and sections 8 and 9 of this act;
Defining those entities covered by the program, and those entities that may voluntarily opt into coverage under the program, as provided in this section and sections 8 and 9 of this act;
Distribution of emission allowances, as provided in section 11 of this act, and through the allowance price containment provisions under sections 15 and 16 of this act;
Providing for offset credits as a method for meeting a compliance obligation, pursuant to section 17 of this act;
Defining the compliance obligation for covered entities, as provided in section 19 of this act;
Establishing the authority of the department to enforce the program requirements, as provided in section 20 of this act;
Creating a climate investment account for the deposit of receipts from the distribution of emission allowances, as provided in section 23 of this act;
Providing for the transfer of allowances and recognition of compliance instruments, including those issued by jurisdictions that enter into linkage agreements with the state;
Providing monitoring and oversight of the sale and transfer of allowances; and
Creating, in section 5 of this act, an environmental justice and equity advisory panel to monitor impacts of this policy on overburdened communities, advise on achieving positive workforce and job outcomes, and the equitable distribution of benefits to overburdened communities.
The department shall consider opportunities to implement the program in a manner that allows linking the state's program with other jurisdictions having similar programs, considering if such linkage will provide for a more cost-effective means for Washington covered entities to meet their compliance obligations while recognizing the special characteristics of the state's economy, communities, and industries. The department is authorized to enter into a linkage agreement with another jurisdiction after formal notice and opportunity for a public hearing, and when consistent with the requirements of section 21 of this act.
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The department shall commence the program by January 1, 2023, by determining an emissions baseline establishing the proportionate share that the total greenhouse gas emissions of covered entities for the first compliance period bears to the total anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions in the state during 2015 through 2019, based on data reported to the department under RCW 70A.15.2200 or provided as required by this chapter. By October 1, 2022, the department shall adopt a program budget of allowances for the first compliance period of the program, calendar years 2023 through 2026, to be distributed from January 1, 2023, through December 31, 2026.
By October 1, 2026, the department shall add to its emissions baseline by incorporating the proportionate share that the total greenhouse gas emissions of new covered entities in the second compliance period bear to the total anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions in the state during 2023 through 2025. In determining the addition to the baseline, the department may exclude a year from the determination if the department identifies that year to have been an outlier due to a state of emergency. The department shall adopt a program budget of allowances for the second compliance period of the program, calendar years 2027 through 2030, that will be incorporated into the program budget of allowances for the first compliance period of the program to be distributed from January 1, 2027, through December 31, 2030.
By October 1, 2028, the department shall adopt by rule the annual program budgets of allowances for the calendar years 2031 through 2040.
The program budgets must be set to achieve the share of reductions by covered entities necessary to achieve the 2030, 2040, and 2050 statewide emissions limits established in RCW 70A.45.020, based on data reported to the department under chapter 70A.15 RCW or provided as required by this chapter. The department must adopt annual allowance budgets for the program on a calendar year basis that provide for substantially equivalent reductions on an absolute basis for each year. An allowance distributed under the program, either directly by the department under sections 12 through 14 of this act or though auctions under section 11 of this act, does not expire and may be held or banked consistent with sections 11(6) and 16(1) of this act.
The department must complete an evaluation by December 31, 2028, and by December 31, 2035, of the performance of the program, including its performance in reducing greenhouse gases and criteria pollutants in overburdened communities. If the evaluation shows that adjustments to the annual budgets are necessary to ensure achievement of 2030 and 2040 emission reduction limits identified in RCW 70A.45.020 and reduce greenhouse gases and criteria pollutants in overburdened communities, the department shall adjust the annual budgets accordingly. The department must complete additional evaluations by December 31, 2040, and by December 31, 2045, of the performance of the program, and make adjustments in the annual budgets to ensure achievement of 2050 emission reduction limits identified in RCW 70A.45.020. Nothing in this subsection precludes the department from making additional adjustments as necessary to ensure successful achievement of emission reduction limits. If any evaluation finds that greenhouse gases and criteria pollutants are not being reduced in overburdened communities, the department must also prioritize the adoption of air quality standards, emission standards, or emissions limitations on covered entities located in those areas.
Data reported to the department under RCW 70A.15.2200 or provided as required by this chapter for 2015 through 2019 is deemed sufficient for the purpose of adopting annual program budgets and demonstrating compliance under the first compliance period of the program. Data reported to the department under RCW 70A.15.2200 or provided as required by this chapter for 2023 through 2025 is deemed sufficient for adopting annual program budgets and demonstrating compliance under the second compliance period of the program.
A person is a covered entity as of the beginning of the first compliance period and all subsequent compliance periods if the person reported emissions under RCW 70A.15.2200 for any calendar year from 2015 through 2019, or additional data provided as required by this chapter indicates that emissions for any calendar year from 2015 through 2019 equaled or exceeded any of the following thresholds:
Where the person operates a facility and the facility's emissions equal or exceed 25,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent;
Where the person is a first jurisdictional deliverer and generates electricity in the state and emissions associated with this generation equals or exceeds 25,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent;
Where the person is a supplier of fossil fuel other than natural gas and from that fuel 25,000 metric tons or more of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions would result from the full combustion or oxidation; and
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Where the person supplies natural gas in amounts that would result in exceeding 25,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent if fully combusted or oxidized, excluding the amounts: (A) Supplied to covered entities under (a) through (c) of this subsection; and (B) delivered to opt-in entities;
Where the person who is not a natural gas company and has a tariff with a natural gas company to deliver to an end-use customer in the state in amounts that would result in exceeding 25,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent if fully combusted or oxidized, excluding the amounts: (A) Supplied to covered entities under (a) through (c) of this subsection or subsection (2)(a) of this section; and (B) the amounts delivered to opt-in entities;
Where the person is an end-use customer in the state who directly purchases natural gas from a person that is not a natural gas company and has the natural gas delivered through an interstate pipeline to a distribution system owned by the purchaser in amounts that would result in exceeding 25,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent if fully combusted or oxidized, excluding the amounts: (A) Supplied to covered entities under (a) through (c) of this subsection or subsection (2)(a) of this section; and (B) delivered to opt-in entities.
A person is a covered entity as of the beginning of the second compliance period and all subsequent compliance periods if the person reported emissions under RCW 70A.15.2200 or provided emissions data as required by this chapter for any calendar year from 2023 through 2025 that equals or exceeds any of the following thresholds:
Where the person is a first jurisdictional deliverer importing electricity into the state and the cumulative annual total of emissions associated with imported electricity into the state from specified or unspecified sources equals or exceeds 25,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. For a specified source, the person must have either full or partial ownership in the facility, or a written power contract to procure electricity at the facility or from an asset controlling supplier at the time of entry of the transaction to procure electricity. In consultation with any jurisdiction that is linked to the program created by this chapter, by October 1, 2026, the department, in consultation with the department of commerce and the utilities and transportation commission, shall adopt a methodology for addressing imported electricity associated with a centralized electricity market; and
Where the person operates a landfill or waste to energy facility utilized by a county and city solid waste management program and the facility's emissions equal or exceed 25,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent.
When a covered entity reports, during a compliance period, emissions from a facility under RCW 70A.15.2200 that are below the thresholds specified in subsection (1) or (2) of this section, the covered entity continues to have a compliance obligation through the current compliance period. When a covered entity reports emissions below the threshold during an entire compliance period, or has ceased all processes at the facility requiring reporting under RCW 70A.15.2200, the entity is no longer a covered entity unless the department provides notice at least 12 months before the end of the compliance period that the facility's emissions were within 10 percent of the threshold and that the person will continue to be designated as a covered entity in order to ensure equity among all covered entities.
For types of emission sources described in subsection (1) of this section that begin or modify operation after January 1, 2023, and types of emission sources described in subsection (2) of this section that begin or modify operation after 2027, coverage under the program starts in the calendar year in which emissions from the source exceed the applicable thresholds in subsection (1) or (2) of this section, or upon formal notice from the department that the source is expected to exceed the applicable emissions threshold, whichever happens first. Sources meeting these conditions are required to transfer their first allowances on the first transfer deadline of the year following the year in which their emissions were equal to or exceeded the emissions threshold.
For emission sources described in subsection (1) of this section that are in operation or otherwise active between 2015 and 2019 but were not required to report emissions for those years under RCW 70A.15.2200 as written for the reporting periods between 2015 and 2019, coverage under the program starts in the calendar year following the year in which emissions from the source exceed the applicable thresholds in subsection (1) of this section as reported pursuant to RCW 70A.15.2200 or provided as required by this chapter, or upon formal notice from the department that the source is expected to exceed the applicable emissions threshold for the first year that source is required to report emissions, whichever happens first. Sources meeting these conditions are required to transfer their first allowances on the first transfer deadline of the year following the year in which their emissions, as reported under RCW 70A.15.2200 or provided as required by this chapter, were equal to or exceeded the emissions threshold.
The following emissions are exempt from coverage in the program, regardless of the emissions reported under RCW 70A.15.2200 or provided as required by this chapter:
Emissions from the combustion of aviation fuels;
Emissions from watercraft fuels supplied in Washington that are combusted outside of Washington;
Emissions from a coal-fired electric generation facility exempted from additional greenhouse gas limitations, requirements, or performance standards under RCW 80.80.110;
Carbon dioxide emissions from the combustion of biomass or biofuels; and
Emissions from facilities with North American industry classification system code 92811 (national security).
The department shall not require multiple covered entities to have a compliance obligation for the same emissions. The department may by rule authorize refineries, fuel suppliers, facilities using natural gas, and natural gas suppliers to provide by agreement for the assumption of the compliance obligation for fuel or natural gas supplied and combusted in the state. The department must be notified of such an agreement at least 12 months prior to the compliance obligation period for which the agreement is applicable
All covered entities must register to participate in the program, following procedures adopted by the department by rule.
Entities registering to participate in the program must describe any direct or indirect affiliation with other registered entities.
A person responsible for greenhouse gas emissions that is not a covered entity may voluntarily participate in the program by registering as an opt-in entity. An opt-in entity must satisfy the same registration requirements as covered entities. Once registered, an opt-in entity is allowed to participate as a covered entity in auctions and must assume the same compliance obligation to transfer compliance instruments equal to their emissions at the appointed transfer dates. An opt-in entity may opt out of the program at the end of any compliance period by providing written notice to the department at least six months prior to the end of the compliance period. The opt-in entity continues to have a compliance obligation through the current compliance period. An opt-in entity is not eligible to receive allowances directly distributed under section 12, 13, or 14 of this act.
A person that is not covered by the program and is not a covered entity or opt-in entity may voluntarily participate in the program as a general market participant. General market participants must meet all applicable registration requirements specified by rule.
Federally recognized tribes and federal agencies may elect to participate in the program as opt-in entities or general market participants.
The department shall use a secure, online electronic tracking system to: Register entities in the state program; issue compliance instruments; track ownership of compliance instruments; enable and record compliance instrument transfers; facilitate program compliance; and support market oversight.
The department must use an electronic tracking system that allows two accounts to each covered or opt-in entity:
A compliance account where the compliance instruments are transferred to the department for retirement. Compliance instruments in compliance accounts may not be sold, traded, or otherwise provided to another account or person, except as provide for in section 11 of this act.
A holding account that is used when a registered entity is interested in trading allowances. Allowances in holding accounts may be bought, sold, transferred to another registered entity, or traded. The amount of allowances a registered entity may have in its holding account is constrained by the holding limit as determined by the department by rule.
Registered general market participants are each allowed an account, to hold, trade, sell, or transfer allowances.
The department shall maintain an account for the purpose of retiring allowances transferred by registered entities.
Except as provided in sections 12, 13, and 14 of this act, the department shall distribute allowances through auctions as provided in this section and in rules adopted by the department to implement these sections. An allowance is not a property right.
The department shall hold a maximum of four auctions annually, plus any necessary reserve auctions. An auction may include allowances from the annual allowance budget of the current year and allowances from the annual allowance budgets from prior years that remain to be distributed. The department must make future vintage allowances available through parallel auctions at least twice annually in addition to the auctions through which current vintage allowances are exclusively offered.
The department shall engage a qualified, independent contractor to run the auctions. The department shall also engage a qualified financial services administrator to hold the bid guarantees, evaluate bid guarantees, and inform the department of the value of bid guarantees once the bids are accepted.
Auctions are open to covered entities, opt-in entities, and general market participants that are registered entities in good standing. The department shall adopt by rule the requirements for a registered entity to register and participate in a given auction.
Registered entities intending to participate in an auction must submit an application to participate at least 30 days prior to the auction. The application must include the documentation required for review and approval by the department. A registered entity is eligible to participate only after receiving a notice of approval by the department.
Each registered entity that elects to participate in the auction must have a different representative. Only a representative with an approved auction account is authorized to access the auction platform to submit an application or confirm the intent to bid for the registered entity, submit bids on behalf of the registered entity during the bidding window, or to download reports specific to the auction.
The department may require a bid guarantee, payable to the financial services administrator, in an amount greater than or equal to the sum of the maximum value of the bids to be submitted by the registered entity.
To protect the integrity of the auctions, a registered entity or group of registered entities with a direct corporate association are subject to auction purchase and holding limits. The department may limit these if it deems necessary to protect the integrity and functioning of the auctions:
A covered entity or an opt-in entity may not buy more than 10 percent of the allowances offered during a single auction;
A general market participant may not buy more than four percent of the allowances offered during a single auction and may not in aggregate own more than 10 percent of total allowances to be issued in a calendar year;
No registered entity may buy more than the entity's bid guarantee; and
No registered entity may buy allowances that would exceed the entity's holding limit at the time of the auction.
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For fiscal year 2023, upon completion and verification of the auction results, the financial services administrator shall notify winning bidders and transfer the auction proceeds to the state treasurer for deposit as follows: (i) $272,019,000 must first be deposited into the forward flexible account created in (g) of this subsection; and (ii) the remaining auction proceeds to the climate investment account created in section 23 of this act.
For fiscal year 2024, upon completion and verification of the auction results, the financial services administrator shall notify winning bidders and transfer the auction proceeds to the state treasurer for deposit as follows: (i) $551,238,000 must first be deposited into the forward flexible account created in (g) of this subsection; and (ii) the remaining auction proceeds to the climate investment account created in section 23 of this act.
For fiscal year 2025, upon completion and verification of the auction results, the financial services administrator shall notify winning bidders and transfer the auction proceeds to the state treasurer for deposit as follows: (i) $436,744,000 must first be deposited into the forward flexible account created in (g) of this subsection; and (ii) the remaining auction proceeds to the climate investment account created in section 23 of this act.
For fiscal years 2026 through 2037, upon completion and verification of the auction results, the financial services administrator shall notify winning bidders and transfer the auction proceeds to the state treasurer for deposit as follows: (i) $325,000,000 per year must first be deposited into the forward flexible account created in (g) of this subsection; and (ii) the remaining auction proceeds to the climate investment account created in section 23 of this act.
The deposits into the forward flexible account pursuant to (a) through (d) of this subsection must not exceed $5,200,000,000 over the first 16 years and any remaining auction proceeds must be deposited into the climate investment account created in section 23 of this act.
For fiscal year 2038 and each year thereafter, upon completion and verification of the auction results, the financial services administrator shall notify winning bidders and transfer the auction proceeds to the state treasurer for deposit as follows: (i) 50 percent of the auction proceeds to the forward flexible account created in (g) of this subsection; and (ii) the remaining auction proceeds to the climate investment account created in section 23 of this act.
The forward flexible account is created in the state treasury. All receipts from proceeds directed to the account under (a) through (f) of this subsection must be deposited in the account. Moneys in the account may be spent only after appropriation. Expenditures from the account may be used only for transportation projects, programs, or activities identified as forward flexible projects, programs, or activities in an omnibus transportation appropriations act.
The department shall adopt by rule provisions to guard against bidder collusion and minimize the potential for market manipulation. A registered entity may not release or disclose any bidding information including: Intent to participate or refrain from participation; auction approval status; intent to bid; bidding strategy; bid price or bid quantity; or information on the bid guarantee provided to the financial services administrator. The department may cancel or restrict a previously approved auction participation application or reject a new application if the department determines that a registered entity has:
Provided false or misleading facts;
Withheld material information that could influence a decision by the department;
Violated any part of the auction rules;
Violated registration requirements; or
Violated any of the rules regarding the conduct of the auction.
Any cancellation or restriction approved by the department under subsection (8) of this section may be permanent or for a specified number of auctions and the cancellation or restriction imposed is not exclusive and is in addition to the remedies that may be available pursuant to chapter 19.86 RCW or other state or federal laws, if applicable.
The department shall design allowance auctions so as to allow, to the maximum extent practicable, linking with external greenhouse gas emissions trading programs in other jurisdictions and to facilitate the transfer of allowances when the state's program is linked with other external greenhouse gas emissions trading programs. The department may conduct auctions jointly with other jurisdictions with which it has a linkage agreement.
During the first compliance period of the program, a covered entity must receive an allocation of allowances under this subsection at no cost if the entity is classified as emissions-intensive and trade-exposed, as determined by being engaged in one or more of the processes described by the following industry descriptions and codes in the North American industry classification system:
Metals manufacturing, including iron and steel making, ferroalloy and primary metals manufacturing, secondary aluminum smelting and alloying, aluminum sheet, plate and foil manufacturing, smelting, refining, and alloying of other nonferrous metals North American industry classification system codes beginning with 331;
Paper manufacturing, including pulp mills, paper mills, and paperboard milling, North American industry classification system codes beginning with 322;
Aerospace product and parts manufacturing, North American industry classification system codes beginning with North American industry classification system code 3364;
Wood products manufacturing, North American industry classification system codes beginning with 322;
Nonmetallic mineral manufacturing, including glass container manufacturing, North American industry classification system codes beginning with 327;
Chemical manufacturing, North American industry classification system codes beginning with 325;
Computer and electronic product manufacturing, including semiconductor and related device manufacturing, North American industry classification system codes beginning with 334;
Food manufacturing, North American industry classification system codes beginning with 311;
Cement manufacturing, North American industry classification system code 327310; and
Petroleum refining, North American industry classification system codes beginning with 324.
The annual allocation of allowances for direct distribution to an entity identified as emissions-intensive and trade-exposed under subsection (1) of this section during the first compliance period of the program must be equal to the covered entity's proportional obligation of the program budget for phase one established under section 8 of this act, multiplied by:
During calendar year 2023, 90 percent;
During calendar year 2024, 85 percent;
During calendar year 2025, 80 percent; and
During calendar year 2026, 75 percent.
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By January 1, 2024, the department must adopt by rule objective criteria for both emissions' intensity and trade exposure for the purpose of identifying emissions-intensive, trade-exposed manufacturing businesses during the second compliance period of the program and subsequent compliance periods. A manufacturing business that can demonstrate to the department that it meets this criteria, whether or not it is listed in subsection (1)(a) through (i) of this section, is eligible for treatment as an emissions-intensive, trade-exposed industry and is eligible for free allocation of allowances as described in this section, and by the department by rule.
By July 1, 2024, the department must adopt rules for allocating allowances that must be transferred by those covered entities that the department determines are engaged in emissions-intensive, trade-exposed processes during the second compliance period of the program. The rules must establish a schedule for the second compliance period of the program that provides for a declining portion of the allocation to such covered entities that must be provided at no cost. By December 31, 2029, the department must adopt rules following the same process and requirements for 2031 through 2040. Both sets of rules may be amended to align with adjustments made under section 8 of this act.
Rules adopted under this section may utilize a combined output-based and emissions intensity-based assessment benchmarking methodology for determining the allocation of allowances to emissions-intensive, trade-exposed industries. A covered entity or process with a lower emissions intensity benchmark may receive a larger allocation than other covered entities engaged in the same industry with higher emissions intensities. The rules must provide a means for attributing a covered entity's emissions to the manufacture of goods and requirements for providing pertinent records to verify the output data used to calculate the emissions intensity benchmark.
The annual allocation of allowances for direct distribution to an entity identified as emissions-intensive and trade-exposed in the second compliance period of the program must be equal to the sum of the annual goods-specific emissions calculation for the goods manufactured by the covered entity, multiplied by a percentage that is adjusted annually, as set forth in a schedule adopted by the department by rule. The schedule must result in an amount of annual allowances that a covered entity may receive under this section and from the allowance price containment reserve that declines annually by a constant amount proportionate to the decline in the amount of allowances available in annual allowance budgets pursuant to section 8 of this act.
The department shall by rule provide for covered entities to apply to the department for an adjustment to the allocation for direct distribution of allowances. The department may grant the adjustment based on either:
A significant change in the emissions attributable to the manufacture of an individual good or goods in this state by a covered entity based on a finding by the department that an adjustment is necessary to accommodate for changes in the manufacturing process that have a material impact on emissions; or
Significant changes to a covered entity's external competitive environment that result in a significant increase in leakage risk.
The department must withhold or withdraw the relevant share of allowances allocated to a covered entity under this section in the event that the covered entity curtails production in the state. Any allowances withheld or withdrawn under this subsection must be permanently retired.
The legislature intends by this section to allow all consumer-owned electric utilities or investor-owned electric utilities subject to the requirements of chapter 19.405 RCW, the Washington clean energy transformation act, to be eligible for allowance allocation as provided in this section in order to mitigate the cost burden of the program on electricity customers.
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By October 1, 2022, the department shall adopt rules, in consultation with the department of commerce and the utilities and transportation commission, establishing the methods and procedures for allocating allowances for consumer-owned or investor-owned electric utilities. The rules must take into account the cost burden of the program on electricity customers.
By October 1, 2022, the department shall adopt an allocation schedule by rule, in consultation with the department of commerce and the utilities and transportation commission, for the first compliance period for the provision of allowances at no cost to consumer-owned or investor-owned electric utilities. This allocation must be consistent with a forecast, that is approved by the appropriate governing board or the utilities and transportation commission, of each utility's supply and demand, and the cost burden resulting from the inclusion of the covered entities in the first compliance period.
By October 1, 2026, the department shall adopt an allocation schedule by rule, in consultation with the department of commerce and the utilities and transportation commission, for the provision of allowances for the second compliance period at no cost to consumer-owned or investor-owned electric utilities. This allocation must be consistent with a forecast, that is approved by the appropriate governing board or the utilities and transportation commission, of each utility's supply and demand, and the cost burden resulting from the inclusion of covered entities in the second compliance period. The allowances included in this schedule must reflect the increased scope of coverage in the electricity sector relative to the program budget of allowances established in 2022.
By October 1, 2028, the department shall adopt an allocation schedule by rule, in consultation with the department of commerce and the utilities and transportation commission, for the provision of allowances at no cost to consumer-owned or investor-owned electric utilities for the compliance periods contained within calendar years 2031 through 2040. This allocation must be consistent with a forecast, that is approved by the appropriate governing board or the utilities and transportation commission, of each utility's supply and demand, and the cost burden resulting from the inclusion of the covered entities in the compliance periods.
Allowances allocated at no cost to investor-owned electric utilities must be consigned to auction for the benefit of ratepayers. Allowances allocated at no cost to consumer-owned electric utilities may be consigned to auction for the benefit of ratepayers, deposited for compliance, or a combination of both. The rules adopted by the department under subsection (2) of this section must include provisions for directing revenues generated under this subsection to the applicable utilities.
If an entity is identified by the department as an emissions-intensive, trade-exposed industry under section 12 of this act, unless allowances have been otherwise allocated for electricity-related emissions to the entity under section 12 of this act or to a consumer-owned utility under this section, the department shall allocate allowances at no cost to the electric utility or power marketing administration that is providing electricity to the entity in an amount equal to the forecasted emissions for electricity consumption for the entity for the compliance period.
The department shall allow for allowances to be transferred between a power marketing administration and electric utilities and used for direct compliance.
Rules establishing the allocation of allowances to consumer-owned utilities and investor-owned utilities must consider the impact of electrification of buildings, transportation, and industry on the electricity sector.
Nothing in this section affects the requirements of chapter 19.405 RCW.
Allowances must be allocated at no cost to covered entities that are natural gas utilities for the benefit of ratepayers.
By October 1, 2022, the department shall adopt rules, in consultation with the utilities and transportation commission, establishing the methods and procedures for allocating allowances to natural gas utilities. Rules adopted under this subsection must allow for a natural gas utility to be provided allowances at no cost to cover their emissions and decline proportionally with the cap, consistent with section 8 of this act. Allowances allocated at no cost to natural gas utilities must be consigned to auction for the benefit of ratepayers consistent with subsection (2) of this section, deposited for compliance, or a combination of both. The rules adopted by the department pursuant to this section must include provisions directing revenues generated under this subsection to the applicable utilities.
By October 1, 2022, the department shall adopt an allocation schedule by rule, in consultation with the utilities and transportation commission, for the first two compliance periods for the provision of allowances for the benefit of ratepayers at no cost to natural gas utilities.
By October 1, 2028, the department shall adopt an allocation schedule by rule, in consultation with the utilities and transportation commission, for the provision of allowances for the benefit of ratepayers at no cost to natural gas utilities for the compliance periods contained within calendar years 2031 through 2040.
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Beginning in 2023, 65 percent of the no cost allowances must be consigned to auction for the benefit of customers, prioritizing low-income customers, including at a minimum eliminating any additional cost burden from the implementation of this chapter. Rules adopted under this subsection must increase the percentage of allowances consigned to auction by five percent each year until a total of 100 percent is reached.
Revenues from allowances sold at auction must be returned by providing nonvolumetric credits on ratepayer utility bills, prioritizing low-income customers, or used to minimize cost impacts on low-income, residential, and small business customers through actions that include, but are not limited to, weatherization, decarbonization, conservation and efficiency services, and bill assistance.
Except for low-income customers, the credits under this subsection are reserved exclusively for customers at locations connected to a natural gas utility's system on the effective date of this section. Credits may not be provided to customers of the gas utility at a location connected to the system after the effective date of this section.
In order to qualify for no cost allowances, covered entities that are natural gas utilities must provide copies of their greenhouse gas emissions reports filed with the United States environmental protection agency under 40 C.F.R. Part 98 subpart NN - suppliers of natural gas and natural gas liquids for calendar years 2015 through 2021 to the department on or before March 31, 2022. The copies of the reports must be provided in electronic form to the department, in a manner prescribed by the department. The reports must be complete and contain all information required by 40 C.F.R. Sec. 98.406 including, but not limited to, information on large end-users served by the natural gas utility. For any year where a natural gas utility was not required to file this report with the United States environmental protection agency, a report may be submitted in a manner prescribed by the department containing all of the information required in the subpart NN report.
To continue receiving no cost allowances, the United States environmental protection agency subpart NN greenhouse gas emissions reports must be provided to the department for each reporting year in the manner and by the dates provided by RCW 70A.15.2200(5) as part of the greenhouse gas reporting requirements of this chapter.
To help ensure that the price of allowances remains sufficient to incentivize reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, the department must establish an emissions containment reserve and set an emissions containment reserve trigger price by rule. The price must be set at a reasonable amount above the auction floor price. The purpose of withholding allowances in the emissions containment reserve is to secure additional emissions reductions consistent with the greenhouse gas emissions limits in RCW 70A.45.020 in the event auction prices fall below the emissions containment reserve trigger price.
In the event that the emissions containment reserve trigger price is met during an auction, the department must automatically withhold allowances as needed. The department must convert and transfer any allowances that have been withheld from auction into the emissions containment reserve account.
Emissions containment reserve allowances may only be withheld from an auction if the demand for allowances would result in an auction clearing price that is less than the emissions containment reserve trigger price prior to the withholding from the auction of any emissions containment reserve allowances.
Allowances may be distributed from the emissions containment reserve by auction when new covered and opt-in entities enter the program, provided the department determines that the distribution will not jeopardize achievement of the state's emission reduction limits.
To help minimize allowance price volatility in the auction, the department shall adopt by rule an auction floor price and a schedule for the floor price to increase by a predetermined amount every year. The department may not sell allowances at bids lower than the auction floor price. The department's rules must specify holding limits that determine the maximum number of allowances that may be held for use or trade by a registered entity at any one time. The department shall also establish an auction ceiling price to limit extraordinary prices and to determine when to offer allowances through the allowance price containment reserve auctions authorized under this section.
For calendar years 2023 through 2026, the department must place no less than four percent of the total number of allowances available from the allowance budgets for those years in an allowance price containment reserve. The reserve must be designed as a mechanism to assist in containing compliance costs for covered and opt-in entities in the event of unanticipated high costs for compliance instruments.
The department shall adopt rules for holding auctions of allowances from the price containment reserve when the settlement prices in the preceding auction approach the adopted auction ceiling price. The auction must be separate from auctions of other allowances.
Only covered and opt-in entities may participate in the auction of allowances from the allowance price containment reserve.
The process for reserve auctions is the same as the process provided in section 11 of this act and the proceeds from reserve auctions must be treated the same.
The department shall by rule:
Set the reserve auction floor price in advance of the reserve auction. The department may choose to establish multiple price tiers for the allowances from the reserve;
Establish the requirements and schedule for the allowance price containment reserve auctions; and
Establish the amount of allowances to be placed in the allowance price containment reserve after the first compliance period ending in 2026.
The department shall adopt by rule the protocols for establishing offset projects and securing offset credits that may be used to meet a portion of a covered or opt-in entity's compliance obligation under section 19 of this act. The protocols adopted by the department under this section must align with the policies of the state established under RCW 70A.45.090 and 70A.45.100.
Offset projects must:
Provide direct environmental benefits to the state or be located in a jurisdiction with which the department has entered into a linkage agreement or memorandum of understanding;
Result in greenhouse gas reductions or removals that:
Are real, permanent, quantifiable, verifiable, and enforceable; and
Are in addition to greenhouse gas emission reductions or removals otherwise required by law and other greenhouse gas emission reductions or removals that would otherwise occur; and
Have been certified by a recognized registry after the effective date of this section or within two years prior to the effective date of this section.
During the first two compliance periods, at least 50 percent of a covered or opt-in entity's compliance obligation satisfied by offset credits must be sourced from offset projects that provide direct environmental benefits in the state.
A total of no more than five percent of a covered or opt-in entity's compliance obligation during the first compliance period may be met by transferring offset credits.
A total of no more than four percent of a covered or opt-in entity's compliance obligation during the second compliance period may be met by transferring offset credits.
The limits in (a) and (b) of this subsection may be modified by rule as adopted by the department when appropriate to ensure achievement of the statewide emissions limits established in RCW 70A.45.020 and to provide for alignment with other jurisdictions to which the state has entered or proposes to enter a linkage agreement.
The limits in (a) and (b) of this subsection may be reduced for a specific covered or opt-in entity if the department determines that the covered or opt-in entity has or is likely to:
Contribute substantively to cumulative air pollution burden in an overburdened community as determined by criteria established by the department; or
Violate any permits required by any federal, state, or local air pollution control agency where the violation may result in an increase in emissions.
An offset project on federally recognized tribal land does not count against the offset credit limits described in (a) and (b) of this subsection. No more than three percent of a covered or opt-in entity's compliance obligation may be met by transferring offset credits from projects on federally recognized tribal land during the first compliance period. No more than two percent of a covered or opt-in entity's compliance obligation may be met by transferring offset credits from projects on federally recognized tribal land during the second compliance period.
In adopting protocols governing offset projects and covered and opt-in entities' use of offset credits, the department shall:
Take into consideration standards, rules, or protocols for offset projects and offset credits established by other states, provinces, and countries with programs comparable to the program established in this chapter;
Encourage opportunities for the development of offset projects in this state by adopting offset protocols that may include, but need not be limited to, protocols that make use of aggregation or other mechanisms to reduce transaction costs related to the development of offset projects and that support the development of carbon dioxide removal projects;
Adopt a process for monitoring and invalidating offset credits as necessary to ensure the credit reflects emission reductions or removals that continue to meet the standards required by subsection (1) of this section. If an offset credit is invalidated, the covered or opt-in entity must, within six months of the invalidation, transfer replacement credits or allowances to meet its compliance obligation. Failure to transfer the required credits or allowances is a violation subject to penalties as provided in section 20 of this act.
Any offset credits used may not be in addition to or allow for an increase in the allowance budgets established under section 8 of this act.
The offset credit must be registered and tracked as a compliance instrument.
In order to ensure that a sufficient number of high quality offset projects are available under the limits set in section 17 of this act, the department must establish an assistance program for offset projects on federally recognized tribal lands in Washington. The assistance may include, but is not limited to, funding or consultation for federally recognized tribal governments to assess a project's technical feasibility, investment requirements, development and operational costs, expected returns, administrative and legal hurdles, and project risks and pitfalls. Funding or assistance may be provided upon request by a federally recognized tribe.
It is the intent of the legislature that not less than $5,000,000 be provided in the biennial omnibus operating appropriations act for the purposes of this section.
A covered or opt-in entity has a compliance obligation for its emissions during each four-year compliance period, with the first compliance period commencing January 1, 2023. A covered or opt-in entity shall transfer a number of compliance instruments equal to their covered emissions by November 1st of each calendar year in which a covered or opt–in entity has a compliance obligation. The department shall set by rule a minimum of 25 percent of compliance instruments that must be transferred in each year of the compliance period such that covered or opt-in entities are allowed to smooth their compliance obligation within the compliance period but must fully satisfy their compliance obligation over the course of the compliance period, in a manner similar to external greenhouse gas emissions trading programs in other jurisdictions.
Submission of allowances occurs through the transfer of compliance instruments, on or before the transfer date, from the holding account to the compliance account of the covered or opt-in entity as described in section 9 of this act. Submission of allowances includes consignment of allowances to auction as described in sections 13 and 14 of this act.
A covered or opt-in entity submitting insufficient compliance instruments to meet its compliance obligation is subject to a penalty as provided in section 20 of this act.
Allowances must be transferred in the order in which they were purchased.
A covered or opt-in entity may not borrow an allowance from a future allowance year to meet a current or past compliance obligation.
Upon receipt by the department of all compliance instruments transferred by a covered entity or opt-in entity to meet its compliance obligation, the department shall retire the allowances or offset credits.
All covered and opt-in entities are required to submit compliance instruments in a timely manner to meet the entities' compliance obligations and shall comply with all requirements for monitoring, reporting, holding, and transferring emission allowances and other provisions of this chapter.
If a covered or opt-in entity does not submit sufficient allowances to meet its compliance obligation by the specified transfer dates, a penalty of four allowances for every one allowance that is missing must be submitted to the department within six months. When a covered entity or opt-in entity reasonably believes that it will be unable to meet a compliance obligation, the entity shall immediately notify the department. Upon receiving notification, the department shall issue an order requiring the entity to submit the penalty allowances.
If a covered entity or opt-in entity fails to submit penalty allowances as required by subsection (2) of this section, the department must issue an order or issue a penalty of up to $10,000 per day per violation, or both, for failure to submit penalty allowances as required by subsection (2) of the section. The order may include a plan and schedule for coming into compliance.
The department may issue a penalty up to $50,000 per day per violation for violations of section 11(8) (a) through (e) of this act.
Except as provided in subsections (3) and (4) of this section, any person that violates the terms of this chapter or an order issued under this chapter will incur a penalty of up to $10,000 per day per violation for each day that the person does not comply. All penalties under subsections (3) and (4) of this section and this subsection must be deposited into the climate investment account created in section 23 of this act.
Appeals of orders and penalties issued under this chapter must be to the pollution control hearings board under chapter 43.21B RCW.
For the first compliance period, the department may reduce the amount of the penalty by adjusting the monetary amount or the number of penalty allowances described in subsections (2) and (3) of this section.
Subject to making the findings and conducting the public comment process described in subsection (3) of this section, the department shall seek to link with other jurisdictions with established external greenhouse gas emissions trading programs in order to:
Allow for the mutual use and recognition of compliance instruments issued by Washington and other linked jurisdictions;
Broaden the greenhouse gas emission reduction opportunities to reduce the costs of compliance on covered entities and consumers;
Enable allowance auctions to be held jointly and provide for the use of a unified tracking system for compliance instruments;
Enhance market security;
Reduce program administration costs; and
Provide consistent requirements for covered entities whose operations span jurisdictional boundaries.
The director of the department is authorized to execute linkage agreements with other jurisdictions with established external greenhouse gas emissions trading programs consistent with the requirements in this chapter. A linkage agreement must cover the following:
Provisions relating to quarterly auctions, including requirements for eligibility for auction participation, the use of a single auction provider to facilitate joint auctions, publication of auction-related information, processes for auction participation, purchase limits by auction participant type, bidding processes, dates of auctions, and financial requirements;
Provisions related to holding limits to ensure no entities in any of the programs are disadvantaged relative to their counterparts in the other jurisdictions;
Other requirements, such as greenhouse gas reporting and verification, offset protocols, criteria and process, and supervision and enforcement, to prevent fraud, abuse, and market manipulation;
Common program registry, electronic auction platform, tracking systems for compliance instruments, and monitoring of compliance instruments;
Provisions to ensure coordinated administrative and technical support;
Provisions for public notice and participation; and
Provisions to collectively resolve differences, amend the agreements, and delink or otherwise withdraw from the agreements.
Before entering into a linkage agreement under this section, the department must establish a finding that the linking jurisdiction and the linkage agreement meets certain criteria identified under this subsection and conduct a public comment process to obtain input and a review of the linkage agreement by relevant stakeholders and other interested parties. The input received from the public comment process must be considered before finalizing a linkage agreement. In the event that the department determines that a full linkage agreement is unlikely to meet the criteria, it may enter into a linkage agreement with limitations, including limits on the share of compliance that may be met with allowances originating from linked jurisdictions and other limitations deemed necessary by the department. A linkage agreement approved by the department must:
Achieve the purposes identified in subsection (1) of this section;
Ensure that the linking jurisdiction has provisions to ensure the distribution of benefits from the program to vulnerable populations and overburdened communities;
Be determined by the department to not yield net adverse impacts to either jurisdictions' highly impacted communities or analogous communities in the aggregate, relative to the baseline level of emissions; and
Not adversely impact Washington's ability to achieve the emission reduction limits established in RCW 70A.45.020.
The state must retain legal and policymaking authority over its program design and enforcement.
The department shall adopt rules to implement the provisions of the program established in sections 7 through 21 of this act. The department may adopt emergency rules pursuant to RCW 34.05.350 for initial implementation of the program, to implement the state omnibus appropriations act for the 2021-2023 fiscal biennium, and to ensure that reporting and other program requirements are determined early for the purpose of program design and early notice to registered entities with a compliance obligation under the program.
The climate investment account is created in the state treasury. Except as provided in section 11(7) of this act, all receipts from the auction of allowances authorized in this chapter must be deposited into the account. Projects or activities funded from the account must meet high labor standards, including family sustaining wages, providing benefits including health care and pensions, career development opportunities, and maximize access to economic benefits from such projects for local workers and diverse businesses. Each contracting entity's proposal must be reviewed for equity and opportunity improvement efforts, including: (a) Employer paid sick leave programs; (b) pay practices in relation to living wage indicators such as the federal poverty level; (c) efforts to evaluate pay equity based on gender identity, race, and other protected status under Washington law; (d) facilitating career development opportunities, such as apprenticeship programs, internships, job-shadowing, and on-the-job training; and (e) employment assistance and employment barriers for justice affected individuals.
Moneys in the account may only be spent after appropriation and must be used for the following purposes:
To cover the department's and other agencies' costs to support and administer the program, including coordination of allowance auctions, tracking of emissions and allowances, rule making, evaluation, monitoring, and verification, and stakeholder communication and outreach such as capacity grants for participation to engage communities in the decision making and guidance of these funds, and developing the comprehensive program under section 25 of this act, as appropriated pursuant to the biennial and supplemental omnibus operating appropriations acts, as enacted;
Deposited into the state general fund to implement the working families tax rebate in RCW 82.08.0206;
Programs, activities, or projects that reduce and mitigate impacts from greenhouse gases and copollutants in overburdened communities, including strengthening the air quality monitoring network to measure, track, and better understand air pollution levels and trends and to inform the analysis, monitoring, and pollution reduction measures required in section 3 of this act;
Clean transportation programs, activities, or projects that reduce transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions;
Natural climate resilience solutions that improve the resilience of the state's waters, forests, and other vital ecosystems to the impacts of climate change, and increase their carbon pollution reduction capacity through sequestration, storage, and overall ecosystem integrity. This includes programs, activities, or projects that: (i) Restore and protect estuaries, fisheries, and marine and freshwater shoreline and riparian habitats, and prepare for sea level rise; (ii) increase the ability to remediate and adapt to the impacts of ocean acidification; (iii) reduce flood risk and restore natural floodplain ecological function; (iv) increase the sustainable supply of water and improve aquatic habitat, including groundwater mapping and modeling; (v) improve infrastructure treating stormwater from previously developed areas within an urban growth boundary designated under chapter 36.70A RCW, with a preference given to projects that use green stormwater infrastructure; (vi) either preserve or increase, or both, carbon sequestration and storage benefits in forests and agricultural soils; (vii) either preserve or establish, or both, carbon sequestration in marine and freshwater riparian areas through forest management sufficient to promote climate resilience, protect cold water fisheries, and achieve water quality standards; (viii) increase forest and community resilience to wildfire in the face of increased seasonal temperatures and drought; (ix) improve forest health and reduce vulnerability to changes in hydrology, insect infestation, and other impacts of climate change; or (x) prevent emissions through preserving natural lands from the threat of conversion to development;
Clean energy transition and assistance programs, activities, or projects that assist affected workers or people with lower incomes during the transition to a clean energy economy, or grow and expand clean manufacturing capacity in communities across Washington state including, but not limited to:
Programs, activities, or projects that directly improve energy affordability and reduce the energy burden of people with lower incomes, as well as the higher transportation fuel burden of rural residents, such as bill assistance, energy efficiency, and weatherization programs;
Reductions in dependence on fossil fuels used for transportation, including public and shared transportation for access and mobility;
Community renewable energy projects that allow qualifying participants to own or receive the benefits of those projects at reduced or no cost;
Programs, activities, or other worker-support projects for bargaining unit and nonsupervisory fossil fuel workers who are affected by the transition away from fossil fuels to a clean energy economy. Worker support may include, but is not limited to: (A) Full wage replacement, health benefits, and pension contributions for every worker within five years of retirement; (B) full wage replacement, health benefits, and pension contributions for every worker with at least one year of service for each year of service up to five years of service; (C) wage insurance for up to five years for workers reemployed who have more than five years of service; (D) up to two years of retraining costs, including tuition and related costs, based on in-state community and technical college costs; (E) peer counseling services during transition; (F) employment placement services, prioritizing employment in the clean energy sector; and (G) relocation expenses;
Direct investment in workforce development, via technical education, community college, apprenticeships, and other programs;
Moneys in the account may not be used for projects that would violate tribal treaty rights or result in significant long-term damage to critical habitat or ecological functions. Investments from this account must result in long-term environmental benefits and increased resiliency to the impacts of climate change.
This section modifies existing section 70.15.2200. Here is the modified chapter for context.
The board of any activated authority or the department, may classify air contaminant sources, by ordinance, resolution, rule or regulation, which in its judgment may cause or contribute to air pollution, according to levels and types of emissions and other characteristics which cause or contribute to air pollution, and may require registration or reporting or both for any such class or classes. Classifications made pursuant to this section may be for application to the area of jurisdiction of such authority, or the state as a whole or to any designated area within the jurisdiction, and shall be made with special reference to effects on health, economic and social factors, and physical effects on property.
Except as provided in subsection (3) of this section, any person operating or responsible for the operation of air contaminant sources of any class for which the ordinances, resolutions, rules or regulations of the department or board of the authority, require registration or reporting shall register therewith and make reports containing information as may be required by such department or board concerning location, size and height of contaminant outlets, processes employed, nature of the contaminant emission and such other information as is relevant to air pollution and available or reasonably capable of being assembled. In the case of emissions of greenhouse gases as defined in RCW 70A.45.010 the department shall adopt rules requiring reporting of those emissions. The department or board may require that such registration or reporting be accompanied by a fee, and may determine the amount of such fee for such class or classes: PROVIDED, That the amount of the fee shall only be to compensate for the costs of administering such registration or reporting program which shall be defined as initial registration and annual or other periodic reports from the source owner providing information directly related to air pollution registration, on-site inspections necessary to verify compliance with registration requirements, data storage and retrieval systems necessary for support of the registration program, emission inventory reports and emission reduction credits computed from information provided by sources pursuant to registration program requirements, staff review, including engineering or other reliable analysis for accuracy and currentness, of information provided by sources pursuant to registration program requirements, clerical and other office support provided in direct furtherance of the registration program, and administrative support provided in directly carrying out the registration program: PROVIDED FURTHER, That any such registration made with either the board or the department shall preclude a further registration and reporting with any other board or the department, except that emissions of greenhouse gases as defined in RCW 70A.45.010 must be reported as required under subsection (5) of this section.
All registration program and reporting fees collected by the department shall be deposited in the air pollution control account. All registration program fees collected by the local air authorities shall be deposited in their respective treasuries.
This subsection does not apply to a grain warehouse or grain elevator if the warehouse or elevator handles more than ten million bushels of grain annually.
For the purposes of subsection (3) of this section:
A "grain warehouse" or "grain elevator" is an establishment classified in standard industrial classification (SIC) code 5153 for wholesale trade for which a license is required and includes, but is not limited to, such a licensed facility that also conducts cleaning operations for grain;
A "license" is a license issued by the department of agriculture licensing a facility as a grain warehouse or grain elevator under chapter 22.09 RCW or a license issued by the federal government licensing a facility as a grain warehouse or grain elevator for purposes similar to those of licensure for the facility under chapter 22.09 RCW; and
"Grain" means a grain or a pulse.
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The department shall adopt rules requiring persons to report emissions of greenhouse gases as defined in RCW 70A.45.010 where those emissions from a single facility, or from electricity or fossil fuels sold in Washington by a single supplier or local distribution company, meet or exceed ten thousand metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent annually. The rules adopted by the department must support implementation of the program created in section 7 of this act. In addition, the rules must require that:
Emissions of greenhouse gases resulting from the combustion of fossil fuels be reported separately from emissions of greenhouse gases resulting from the combustion of biomass; and
Each annual report must include emissions data for the preceding calendar year and must be submitted to the department by March 31st of the year in which the report is due.
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i.
The department may by rule include additional gases to the definition of "greenhouse gas" in RCW 70A.45.010 only if the gas has been designated as a greenhouse gas by the United States congress , by the United States environmental protection agency**, or included in external greenhouse gas emission trading programs where Washington has a linkage agreement in effect pursuant to section 21 of this act**. Prior to including additional gases to the definition of "greenhouse gas" in RCW 70A.45.010, the department shall notify the appropriate committees of the legislature.
ii. The department may by rule exempt persons who are required to report greenhouse gas emissions to the United States environmental protection agency and who emit less than ten thousand metric tons carbon dioxide equivalent annually.
iii. The department must establish a methodology for persons who are not required to report under this section to voluntarily report their greenhouse gas emissions.
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i. The department shall review and if necessary update its rules whenever **:**
(A) The United States environmental protection agency adopts final amendments to 40 C.F.R. Part 98 to ensure consistency with federal reporting requirements for emissions of greenhouse gases**; or**
(B) Needed to ensure consistency with emissions reporting requirements for jurisdictions with a linkage agreement pursuant to section 21 of this act.
ii. **The** department shall not amend its rules in a manner that conflicts with this **section**.
d. The department shall share any reporting information reported to it with the local air authority in which the person reporting under the rules adopted by the department operates.
e. The fee provisions in subsection (2) of this section apply to reporting of emissions of greenhouse gases. Persons required to report under (a) of this subsection who fail to report or pay the fee required in subsection (2) of this section are subject to enforcement penalties under this chapter. The department shall enforce the reporting rule requirements **. When a person that holds a compliance obligation under section 9 of this act fails to submit an emissions data report or fails to obtain a positive emissions data verification statement in accordance with (g)(ii) of this subsection, the department may assign an emissions level for that person**.
f. The energy facility site evaluation council shall, simultaneously with the department, adopt rules that impose greenhouse gas reporting requirements in site certifications on owners or operators of a facility permitted by the energy facility site evaluation council. The greenhouse gas reporting requirements imposed by the energy facility site evaluation council must be the same as the greenhouse gas reporting requirements imposed by the department. The department shall share any information reported to it from facilities permitted by the energy facility site evaluation council with the council, including notice of a facility that has failed to report as required. The energy facility site evaluation council shall contract with the department to monitor the reporting requirements adopted under this section.
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i. The **department must establish by rule the methods of verifying the accuracy of emissions reports.**
ii. **Verification requirements apply at a minimum to persons required to report under (a) of this subsection with emissions that equal or exceed 25,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions, including carbon dioxide from biomass-derived fuels, or to persons who have a compliance obligation under section 9 of this act in any year of the current compliance period. The department may adopt rules to accept verification reports from another jurisdiction with a linked agreement pursuant to section 18 of this act in cases where the department deems that the methods or procedures are substantively similar**.
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i. The definitions in RCW 70A.45.010 apply throughout this subsection (5) unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
ii. For the purpose of this subsection (5), the term "supplier" includes: (A) **Suppliers that produce, import, or deliver, or any combination of producing, importing, or delivering, a quantity of fuel products in Washington that, if completely combusted, oxidized, or used in other processes, would result in the release of greenhouse gases equivalent to or higher than the threshold established under (a) of this subsection; and (B) suppliers of carbon dioxide that produce, import, or deliver a quantity of carbon dioxide in Washington that, if released, would result in emissions equivalent to or higher than the threshold established under (a) of this subsection**.
iii. For the purpose of this subsection (5), the term "person" includes: (A) An owner or operator**of a facility; (B) a supplier; or (C) an electric power entity.**
iv. **For the purpose of this subsection (5), the term "facility" includes facilities that directly emit greenhouse gases in Washington equivalent to the threshold established under (a) of this subsection with at least one source category listed in the United States environmental protection agency's mandatory greenhouse gas reporting regulation, 40 C.F.R. Part 98 Subparts C through II and RR through UU, as adopted on April 25, 2011.**
v. **For the purpose of this subsection (5), the term "electric power entity" includes any of the following that supply electric power in Washington with associated emissions of greenhouse gases equal to or above the threshold established under (a) of this subsection: (A) Electricity importers and exporters; (B) retail providers, including multijurisdictional retail providers; and (C) first jurisdictional deliverers, as defined in section 2 of this act, not otherwise included here**.
The governor shall establish a comprehensive program to implement the state's climate commitment. The purpose of the comprehensive program is to provide accountability and authority for achieving the state's greenhouse gas limits in RCW 70A.45.020, to establish a coordinated and strategic statewide approach to climate resilience, and to build an equitable and inclusive clean energy economy.
The comprehensive program for implementing the state's climate commitment must be based on the state's following principles:
The program must be holistic and address the needs, challenges, and opportunities to meet the climate commitment.
The program must address emission reductions from all relevant sectors and sources by ensuring that emitters are responsible for meeting targeted greenhouse gas reductions and that the government provides clear policy and requirements, financial tools, and other mechanisms to support achieving those reductions.
The program must support an equitable transition for vulnerable populations and overburdened communities, including communities in rural Washington, with early and meaningful engagement of overburdened communities and workers to ensure the program achieves equitable and just outcomes. The program must prioritize funding for overburdened communities and workers in meeting the state's climate commitment, including climate resilience and clean energy economy efforts.
The program must build increasing climate resilience for at-risk communities and ecosystems through cross-sectoral coordination, strategic planning, and cohesive policies.
The program must apply the most current, accurate, and complete scientific and technical information available to guide the state's climate actions and strategies.
The program must be developed and implemented in consultation and collaboration with all levels of government and civil society.
The program must be implemented with sustained leadership, resources, clear governance, and prioritized investments at the scale necessary to meet the statutory emissions limits.
The program must achieve progress in meeting emissions limits in the most effective and efficient manner possible and must include periodic measurement and reporting of progress and changes to the program as needed to meet the limits.
The comprehensive program for implementing the state's climate commitment must include, but not be limited to, the following elements:
A strategic plan for aligning existing law, rules, policies, programs, and plans with the state's greenhouse gas limits, to the full extent allowed under existing authority;
Common state policies, standards, and procedures for addressing greenhouse gas emissions and climate resilience, including grant and funding programs, infrastructure investments, and planning and siting decisions;
A process for prioritizing and coordinating funding consistent with strategic needs for greenhouse gas reductions, equity and environmental justice, economic prosperity and job creation, and climate resilience actions;
An updated statewide strategy for addressing climate risks and improving resilience of communities and ecosystems;
A comprehensive community engagement plan that addresses and mitigates barriers to engagement from vulnerable populations, overburdened communities, and other historically or currently marginalized groups; and
An analysis of gaps and conflicts in state law and programs, with recommendations for improvements to state law;
To ensure mutual respect for the rights, interests, and obligations of each federally recognized tribe, the governor must develop a framework for government-to-government consultation with federally recognized tribes consistent with the centennial accord, chapter 43.376 RCW, and applicable tribal policies. The consultation must ensure meaningful tribal engagement on the implementation of this act, including rule making, programmatic decisions, and funding decisions. Within this framework, at least once each year the governor must invite all federally recognized Indian tribes with reserved rights within the geographical boundaries of the state to meet in government-to-government consultation. The purpose of the meeting is to share information, views, tribal knowledge and science, and recommendations regarding the progress of implementing the state's carbon commitment and investing carbon-related revenues, to strengthen climate resilience in communities throughout the state, to strengthen climate resilience in the water and natural resources shared by all citizens in the state, and to ensure a just transition to a clean energy economy.
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The governor's office shall convene a climate commitment task force with state agencies, other governments, and stakeholders by July 1, 2021. In making these appointments the governor shall seek diverse representation of stakeholders, including members of overburdened communities. The governor or the governor's designee must chair the climate commitment task force convened under this section and must appoint task force members. The governor or the governor's designee must convene the initial meeting of the task force. The task force is a class one group under RCW 43.03.220.
The duties of the climate commitment task force are to develop recommendations to the legislature on the establishment of a state comprehensive climate, energy, and resilience program to implement the state's climate commitment in accordance with the purpose, principles, and elements in section 25 of this act.
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The climate commitment task force must develop preliminary recommendations by November 1, 2021. By December 1, 2021, the governor's office must submit, in compliance with RCW 43.01.036, a report to the legislature with findings and recommendations of the climate commitment task force. The report must include recommendations for the following:
A governance structure to achieve the desired outcomes described in section 25 of this act that considers both existing state capacity, resources, expertise, and authorities, and necessary enhancements to these governance features;
Reporting requirements and frequency, and other accountability measures, including mechanisms for legislative and executive oversight and any changes to existing statutory reporting requirements, such as RCW 70A.45.020;
A formal process for coordinating across state government, with other governments, including federally recognized tribes and local governments, and with key stakeholder groups, such as interagency councils, advisory boards, or expert panels;
The funding authorities and structures necessary to facilitate investments, including recommendations around public-private partnerships and capacity grants for participation;
Suggested duties and roles related to resilience that considers recommendations and 2020 reports on disaster resilience and climate resilience from the office of the insurance commissioner and office of financial management;
The definitions in section 2 of this act apply throughout this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
This section expires December 31, 2022.
No city, town, county, township, or other subdivision or municipal corporation of the state may implement a charge or tax based exclusively upon the quantity of greenhouse gas emissions.
This act may be known and cited as the Washington climate commitment act.
Sections 7 through 21 of this act, and any rules adopted by the department of ecology to implement the program established under those sections, are suspended on December 31, 2055, in the event that the department of ecology determines by December 1, 2055, that the 2050 emissions limits of RCW 70A.45.020 have been met for two or more consecutive years.
Upon the occurrence of the events identified in subsection (1) of this section, the department of ecology must provide written notice of the suspension date of sections 7 through 21 of this act to affected parties, the chief clerk of the house of representatives, the secretary of the senate, the office of the code reviser, and others as deemed appropriate by the department.
If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.