Chapter 173-441 & 173-446 WAC, Cap-and-Invest Program Updates and Linkage

Ecology is considering amendments to Chapter 173-446 WAC and Chapter 173-441 WAC to make improvements to the implementation of the Cap-and-Invest Program, facilitate the linkage of Washington’s carbon market with California-Québec carbon market, as well as make other necessary updates.

We originally announced the Cap-and-Invest Linkage rulemaking in April of 2024 (filed a CR-101). On March 31, 2025, we announced the Cap-and-Invest Program Updates and Linkage Rulemaking (filed a new CR-101) to address a broader set of Cap-and-Invest Program topics.

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Rulemaking timeline

Timeline

Date	Activity
April 11, 2024	Announced rulemaking (filed CR-101 form)
Spring 2024 – early 2025	Held public meetings Developed draft rule language
March 31, 2025	Refiled CR-101 form (announced rulemaking with expanded scope)
Spring 2025 – early 2026	Develop and prepare the rule language and other information
Spring 2025 – early 2026	Hold public workshop(s) and public meeting(s)
Early 2026	Propose rule (file the CR-102 form) Start public comment period with rule text and supporting documents
Early 2026	Hold public hearing(s)
Spring 2026	End public comment period
Spring 2026	Review public comments Prepare adoption package
Summer 2026	Adopt rule (file the CR-103 form)
Summer 2026	Rule effective (usually 31 days after filing)

Announcement phase (CR-101)

Filing date:
March 31, 2025

Announcement documents

Announcement Notice – CR-101 form (filed March 31, 2025)
Notice of Withdrawal
CCA Market Notice: Update on Cap-and-Invest rulemaking topics and timeline (March 17, 2025)

Announcement documents (withdrawn)

Announcement Notice – CR-101 form (filed April 11, 2024; withdrawn March 31, 2025)
CCA Market Notice: Possible topics for linkage rulemaking (April 11, 2024)

Rule development phase

April 11, 2024 – Early 2026

Public input & involvement

We plan to hold public meetings to provide information about the rulemaking and seek your input. We'll update this page with meeting specifics.

To get updates about these meetings and this rulemaking, join our mailing list.

Draft rule language

Below are the most updated drafts of the rule language:

Public comment period (informal) for electric utility allocation topics
April 1, 2025, noon – Oct. 1, 2025, 11:59 p.m.
Provide informal comments on this topic

Public comment period (informal)

June 3, 2024, 5 p.m. – Sept. 27, 2024, 11:59 p.m.

Review informal comments on this rulemaking.

Public comment period for electricity topics (informal)
Oct. 30, 2024, midnight – Dec. 20, 2024, 11:59 p.m.

Review comments on electricity topics for the linkage rulemaking.

Ecology's public meetings

Date	Documents	Location
Electric utility allocation workshop April 17, 2025 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.	Materials will be posted at noon April 16.	Public workshop registration
Linkage Rulemaking Public Meeting Wednesday, July 10, 2024 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.	Draft rule language (173-441) Draft rule language (173-446) Presentation	Public meeting recording
Linkage Environmental Justice Listening Session Monday, July 22, 2024 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.	Draft rule language (173-441) Draft rule language (173-446) Presentation	Public meeting recording
Linkage Rulemaking Meeting on Electricity Topics Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.	Presentation Requested feedback for comment	Public meeting recording

Webinar information

To hear the webinar better or to call in only, use your phone (instead of the computer) to call 253‑215‑8782.

Additional languages

Español (Spanish)

El Departamento de Ecología está iniciando el proceso regulatorio para enmendar el Capítulo 173-441 WAC, Reporte de Emisiones de Gases de Efecto Invernadero (en inglés, Reporting of Emissions of Greenhouse Gases), y el Capítulo 173-446 WAC, Regla del Programa de la Ley de Compromiso Climático (en inglés, Climate Commitment Act Program Rule). Las enmiendas a estos capítulos facilitarían la vinculación del mercado de carbono de Washington con el mercado de carbono de California-Quebec, y permitirían realizar mejoras a la implementación del programa y otras actualizaciones necesarias.

Para obtener más información, llame a Surabhi Subedi al 360-280-6566 y solicite un intérprete.

中文 (Chinese)

生态管理部目前在修订 WAC 第 173-441 章温室气体排放报告(Reporting of Emissions of Greenhouse Gases)和 WAC 第 173-446 章气候承诺法案计划规则(Climate Commitment Act Program Rule). 生态管理部正在考虑修订 WAC 第 173-446 章和 WAC 第 173-441 章，以促进Washington碳市场与 California-Québec碳市场的联系，并改进计划实施和其他必要的更新。

如需更多信息，请致电 Surabhi Subedi，电话 360-280-6566，并可要求提供口译员。

Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)

Bộ Môi Sinh đang khởi xướng quy trình quản lý để sửa đổi Chương 173-441 WAC Báo cáo về Phát thải Khí nhà kính (Reporting of Emissions of Greenhouse Gases) và Chương 173-446 WAC Quy tắc Chương trình Đạo luật Cam kết Khí hậu (Climate Commitment Act Program Rule). Bộ Môi Sinh đang xem xét các sửa đổi đối với Chương 173-446 WAC và Chương 173-441 WAC để tạo điều kiện liên kết thị trường carbon của Washington với thị trường carbon California-Québec, cũng như để cải thiện việc triển khai chương trình và các cập nhật cần thiết khác.

Để biết thêm thông tin, vui lòng gọi Surabhi Subedi số 360-280-6566 và yêu cầu thông dịch viên.

한국어 (Korean)

주 환경부는 WAC 173-441장 온실가스 배출 보고(Reporting of Emissions of Greenhouse Gases) 및 WAC 173-446장 기후 공약법 프로그램 규정(Climate Commitment Act Program Rule)을 개정하기 위한 규제 절차를 시작하고 있습니다. 주 환경부는 워싱턴주의 탄소 시장을 캘리포니아-퀘벡 탄소 시장과 연계하는 것을 촉진하기 위해 WAC 173-446장 및 WAC 173-441장을 개정하는 방안을 검토하고 있으며, 또한 프로그램 운영 개선 및 기타 필요한 업데이트를 진행할 예정입니다.

자세한 내용은 Surabhi Subedi 에게360-280-6566로 전화하여 통역을 요청하세요.

Français (French)

Le Department of Ecology (Département de l'écologie) de l’État de Washington lance le processus de réglementation visant à modifier le chapitre 173-441 WAC Déclaration des émissions de gaz à effet de serre (Reporting of Emissions of Greenhouse Gases) et le chapitre 173-446 WAC Règles de programme de la loi sur l'engagement climatique (Climate Commitment Act Program Rule). Le Département de l'écologie envisage de modifier les chapitres 173-446 WAC et 173-441 WAC afin de faciliter l'établissement d'un lien entre le marché du carbone de l'État de Washington et le marché du carbone de California-Québec, d'améliorer la mise en œuvre du programme et de procéder à d'autres mises à jour nécessaires.

Pour plus d'informations, veuillez appeler Surabhi Subedi au 360-280-6566 pour demander un interprète.

русский (Russian)

The Washington State Department of Ecology (Департамент экологии штата Washington) начинает нормативный процесс по внесению поправок в главу
173-441 WAC «Отчетность о выбросах парниковых газов» (Reporting of Emissions of Greenhouse Gases) и в главу 173-446 WAC «Правило программы по Акту о климатических обязательствах» (Climate Commitment Act Program Rule). Ecology рассматривает поправки к Главам 173-446 WAC и 173-441 WAC для упрощения связи углеродного рынка штата Washington с углеродным рынком California-Québec, а также для внесения улучшений в реализацию программы и других необходимых обновлений.

Для получения дополнительной информации позвоните Surabhi Subedi по телефону 360-280-6566 и попросите переводчика.

український (Ukrainian)

The Washington State Department of Ecology (Департамент екології штату Washington) ініціює регуляторний процес щодо внесення поправок до глави
173-441 WAC «Звітність про викиди парникових газів» (Reporting of Emissions of Greenhouse Gases) та до глави 173-446 WAC «Правило програми за Актом про кліматичні зобов'язання» (Climate Commitment Act Program Rule). Ecology розглядає поправки до глав 173-446 WAC і 173-441 WAC для спрощення зв'язку вуглецевого ринку Washington з вуглецевим ринком California-Québec, а також для внесення поліпшень у реалізацію програми та інших необхідних оновлень.

Для отримання додаткової інформації зателефонуйте Surabhi Subedi за номером 360-280-6566 і попросіть перекладача.

Contact information

Surabhi Subedi
Environmental Planner
CPRRulemaking@ecy.wa.gov
360-280-6566

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Accessibility

To request ADA accommodation for disabilities, or printed materials in a format for the visually impaired, contact Ecology's ADA Coordinator by email at ecyadacoordinator@ecy.wa.gov, or call 360-407-6831. People with impaired hearing may call Washington Relay Service at 711. People with speech disability may call TTY at 877-833-6341.