New reporting rules proposed for major sources of greenhouse gas emissions in Washington will provide the Department of Ecology with the data it needs to implement the Climate Commitment Act, the new state law designed to reduce climate-warming emissions over the next three decades.

The new rules will allow Ecology to fully track emissions tied to sources like electricity imported into the state, natural gas transmission, and a detailed breakdown of transportation fuels and petroleum products.

“Getting more detail on sources of emissions and better tracking emissions will be essential to our efforts to reduce carbon pollution and protect Washington from climate change,” said Kathy Taylor, manager of Ecology’s Air Quality program.

The changes are required to implement the Climate Commitment Act, a law passed in 2021 that creates a “cap-and-invest program” designed to limit total emissions in the state and then gradually reduce that cap. Major emitters will need to obtain emissions allowances, and the revenue raised from auctioning off some of those allowances will go toward clean transportation, improving climate resiliency from things like floods and droughts, and reducing air pollution in the communities that bear the greatest burden from pollution today.

Along with the changes to the state’s greenhouse gas reporting program, Ecology is conducting separate rulemakings to establish the cap-and-invest program and set up criteria for emissions-intensive and trade-exposed industries that have different compliance requirements in the law.

Public input

Ecology is accepting comments on the proposed greenhouse gas reporting rules through Nov. 16, 2021. You can submit comments three ways:

• Ecology’s online comment portal
• Mail: Rachel Assink, Air Quality Program, P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504-7600
• Online public hearing: 10 a.m. Nov. 9 – Register here