Climate change threatens Washington’s environment, economy, and the health of people who live here. Those threats carry very real costs. The Clean Fuel Standard and Climate Commitment Act will help us:
- Reduce carbon emissions.
- Accelerate the switch to clean energy sources with more stable prices.
- Make zero-emission vehicles and other low carbon technologies more affordable and accessible.
When we complete this switch, costs from these policies will fall quickly. Transportation costs will be significantly lower than they are today.
Along with these broader benefits, both the Clean Fuel Standard and the Climate Commitment Act include provisions to make sure communities with lower incomes have better access to clean transportation options and improved air quality.
Cleaner air creates economic benefits
We also asked Berkeley Research Group to investigate other costs and savings due to cleaner fuels and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. The report shows that once fully phased in, the Clean Fuel Standard – combined with other transportation initiatives – will mean an estimated $1.8 to $3.8 billion in economic benefit due to better health and reduced health care costs.
At the same time, the Clean Fuel Standard alone is estimated to save up to $40 million per year by reducing our contribution to climate change – and the wildfires, floods, storms, and other natural disasters that come with it.