Signed by Governor Jay Inslee

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires state greenhouse gas emissions be reduced to zero by 2050.

Highlights:

• Requires the state to limit anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases to achieve the following emission reductions (Sec. 2):

• Reduce overall emissions of greenhouse gases in the state to 1990 levels, or 90.5 million metric tons by 2020;

• Reduce overall emissions of greenhouse gases in the state to 50 million metric tons, or 45 percent below 1990 levels by 2030; and

• Reduce overall emissions of greenhouse gases in the state to 27 million metric tons, or 70 percent below 1990 levels by 2040.

• Requires the state to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 (Sec. 2).

• Requires state agencies to meet the statewide greenhouse gas emission limits to achieve the following (Sec. 3):

• Reduce emissions of greenhouse gases to 805,000 metric tons, or 15 percent below 2005 emission levels by July 1, 2020;

• Reduce emissions of greenhouse gases to 521,000 metric tons, or 45 percent below 2005 levels by 2030; 

• Reduce emissions of greenhouse gases to 284,000 metric tons, or 70 percent below 2005 levels by 2040; and

• Reduce overall emissions of greenhouse gases to 47,000 metric tons, or 95 percent below 2005 levels by 2050, and achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by state government as a whole. 

• Specifies that it is the policy of the state to promote the removal of excess carbon from the atmosphere through voluntary and incentive-based sequestration activities, including on natural and working lands and by recognizing the potential for sequestration in products and product supply chains (Sec. 4).

• Defines “carbon sequestration” as the process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide through biologic, chemical, geologic, or physical processes (Sec. 5).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires state greenhouse gas emissions be reduced to zero by 2050.

Highlights:

• Requires the state to limit anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases to achieve the following emission reductions (Sec. 2):

• Reduce overall emissions of greenhouse gases in the state to 1990 levels, or 90.5 million metric tons by 2020;

• Reduce overall emissions of greenhouse gases in the state to 50 million metric tons, or 45 percent below 1990 levels by 2030; and

• Reduce overall emissions of greenhouse gases in the state to 27 million metric tons, or 70 percent below 1990 levels by 2040.

• Requires the state to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 (Sec. 2).

• Requires state agencies to meet the statewide greenhouse gas emission limits to achieve the following (Sec. 3):

• Reduce emissions of greenhouse gases to 805,000 metric tons, or 15 percent below 2005 emission levels by July 1, 2020;

• Reduce emissions of greenhouse gases to 521,000 metric tons, or 45 percent below 2005 levels by 2030; 

• Reduce emissions of greenhouse gases to 284,000 metric tons, or 70 percent below 2005 levels by 2040; and

• Reduce overall emissions of greenhouse gases to 47,000 metric tons, or 95 percent below 2005 levels by 2050, and achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by state government as a whole. 

• Specifies that it is the policy of the state to promote the removal of excess carbon from the atmosphere through voluntary and incentive-based sequestration activities, including on natural and working lands and by recognizing the potential for sequestration in products and product supply chains (Sec. 4).

• Defines “carbon sequestration” as the process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide through biologic, chemical, geologic, or physical processes (Sec. 5).

Full Bill Text