Clean Fuel Standard

The Clean Fuels Program will curb carbon pollution from transportation, the largest source of statewide greenhouse-gas emissions in Washington. The Clean Fuel Standard is designed to decrease the carbon intensity of Washington's transportation fuels. It will provide an increasing range of low-carbon and renewable alternatives that reduce dependency on petroleum and improve air quality.

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How the Clean Fuel Standard will reduce emissions

By requiring fuel suppliers to reduce the carbon intensity of transportation fuels, the Clean Fuel Standard will cut statewide greenhouse gas emissions by 4.3 million metric tons a year by 2038, and will stimulate economic development in low carbon fuel production.

2019 Washington greenhouse gases: 25% heating, 39% transportation, 21% electricity, 14% other — **2019 Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Washington**

California, Oregon, and British Columbia have adopted their own clean fuel standards. In Washington, the Clean Fuel Standard will work beside the Climate Commitment Act to target the largest source of emissions in Washington.

The Clean Fuel Standard law requires fuel suppliers to gradually reduce the carbon intensity of transportation fuels to 20% below 2017 levels by 2034. There are several ways for fuel suppliers to achieve these reductions, including:

Improving the efficiency of their fuel production processes
Producing and/or blending low-carbon biofuels into the fuel they sell
Purchasing credits generated by low-carbon fuel providers, including electric vehicle charging providers

The Clean Fuel Standard is a market-based policy designed to provide incentives for low carbon fuels. Program implementation is paid for by participation fees.

How it works

Under the Clean Fuel Standard, fuels will be assessed to determine their carbon intensity. Cleaner fuels – those with carbon intensities below the standard – will generate credits that can be kept or sold to producers of high-carbon fuels. Fuels with a carbon intensity above the standard will generate deficits. Those producers must then buy enough credits to meet the carbon intensity reduction for that year. The requirement to reduce carbon intensity increases over time, making sure all transportation fuels decrease their emissions.

Fuels with carbon intensity below standard generate credits, while those above generate deficits. 20% reduction below 2017 levels by 2034. — **Carbon intensity reduction**

Frequently asked questions

When does the Clean Fuel Standard take effect?
The Clean Fuel Standard was implemented starting Jan. 1, 2023.

When will the final Clean Fuels Program Rule be available?
We adopted the Clean Fuels Program Rule (Chapter 173-424 WAC) on Nov. 28, 2022.

Who needs to register for the program?
Producers and suppliers of regulated fuels to Washington consumers must participate and register in the Washington Fuel Reporting System. Producers of low-carbon fuels may participate and need to register.

WAC 173-424-120(2) lists regulated fuels.
WAC 173-424-120(3) lists opt-in fuel.

How and when do I register for the program?
You will register for the program in a new Washington Fuel Reporting System (WFRS) which started Jan. 1, 2023.

Is there a program fee?
In 2023, all program participants will be charged a fee to support implementation of the Clean Fuel Standard. The fee will be split between credit and deficit generators. Credit generators will pay a nominal fee compared to deficit generators. The fee categories are listed in WAC 173-455-150. The actual fee amount will be released in early 2023. We will publish the program's annual budget estimate on Feb. 1, 2023. The budget will include what the fee covers. There will be opportunities to provide feedback.

Is my fuel eligible to generate credits?
A fuel may generate credits if the carbon intensity of the fuel is lower than the carbon intensity standard for a specific year. The table of annual carbon intensity standards is in WAC 173-424-900.

Agriculture and Forestry Carbon Capture & Sequestration Advisory Panel

The panel is made up of representative stakeholders from businesses and industries related to forestry and agriculture, environmental and environmental justice groups, local governments, and the public. The panel will provide a collaborative forum for members to offer input and insights about how to best provide incentives and allocate credits for the sequestration of greenhouse gases related to the Clean Fuel Standard through activities on agricultural and forest lands in Washington.

Find out more about the advisory panel.

Contact information

Technical contact:
Abbey Brown
Clean Fuel Standard Technical Lead
cfs@ecy.wa.gov
360-819-0158

Media contact:
Susan Woodward
Communications Manager
susan.woodward@ecy.wa.gov
360-688-8070

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