issue area reports
HB 1409 changing the low-carbon fuel standard program
Passed / AWB Opposed sponsor: Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon, D-West Seattle
When the low-carbon fuel standard passed 2020, there was a cap of 10 % for program stringency, which is a fair proxy for the program costs. Under the original program they could go up to as high as 20 % if the state built and sited a biofuels refinery using 25 % or greater of in-state grown biofuel. HB 1409 removed those provisions and increased the stringency to 55 %, which is a massive potential increase for what consumers pay for this program. Currently, the program in Washington state is at 1 % stringency, and consumers are paying about 1 cent per gallon, As we’ ve seen in California, as stringency increases so does the price. The bill is another program which increases the cost of fuel and pushes transportation costs up, and therefore ripples down the supply chain, making costs of goods, particularly groceries, more expensive. AWB was able to get language back in the bill that requires the state to at least provide a permit to build an in-state biofuel facility. This bill advanced on a party line vote. It’ s not guaranteed that this will drive prices upward, but it is another element that could further increase price pressure. AWB remains concerned.
environment
Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick, is the ranking Republican on the Senate Environment, Energy & Technology Committee.
The environmental space remains unchanged from what we’ ve seen for the last couple of years, with a discussion about reducing the exposure to chemicals and managing the externalities related to certain types of products. We saw the return of the extended producer responsibility programs again this year, and in fact, saw the number of EPR bills increase compared to previous years. Unfortunately, the one that AWB has been opposing the most for the last seven years did end up passing by a very narrow margin. It directs the Department of Ecology to create the rule making for an extended producer responsibility program that shares elements from Minnesota, Colorado and California’ s programs. AWB remains concerned about the development of this program due to the likelihood of cost increases that will be passed down to consumers, making groceries and other products more expensive within the state. The other EPR programs did not advance, but we expect to see them return. Given the make-up of
Bill considered as part of AWB’ s voting record
Favorable outcome for Washington businesses
Missed Opportunities
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