Chapter 173-446 WAC – Cap-and-Invest Offsets

We propose to update Chapter 173-446 WAC, Climate Commitment Act Program Rule. This rulemaking may consider amendments to address new and revised Cap-and-Invest offset protocols, including WAC 173-446-505 and WAC 173-446-580.

Offsets are projects or programs designed to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. In the Cap-and-Invest Program, offset projects must also provide direct environmental benefits to Washington state. Offsets allow businesses to balance out the negative impacts of their emissions by funding a project that benefits the environment, such as capturing methane on dairy farms or planting trees in urban areas.

This proposed rulemaking updates the ozone depleting substances (ODS) protocol and will increase technical standards, decrease obstacles to project development, and reflect policy advances. Ecology has entered the second phase of this rulemaking which opens the formal public comment period.

Rulemaking timeline

Timeline

Announcement phase (CR-101)

Filing date:
Sept. 12, 2023


Announcement documents

Rule development phase

Sept. 12, 2023 – Early 2025

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 email list.

Draft rule language 

Below are the most updated drafts of the rule language:

Public comment period (informal)
Nov. 9, 2023, at midnight – Sept. 27, 2024, at 11:59 p.m.

Read comments about which offset protocols should be revised or added, and comment about the scope of this rulemaking.

Public comment period (informal)
Oct. 1, 2024, at noon – Oct. 31, 2024, at 11:59 p.m.

Read comments on the draft rule language and considered revisions to the ODS protocol.

Ecology's public meetings
Date Documents Location

Offsets Rulemaking Informational Meeting

Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2023
1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Presentation

webinar recording 1

ODS Protocol Working Group

Tuesday, April 23, 2024
8 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Presentation Virtual  

ODS Protocol Working Group

Friday, May 17, 2024
8 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Presentation Virtual 

U.S. Forestry Protocol Working Group

Tuesday, June 4, 2024
8 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Presentation Virtual

ODS Protocol Working Group

Tuesday, June 25, 2024
8 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Presentation Virtual

U.S. Forestry Protocol Working Group

Tuesday, July 2, 2024
9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Presentation Meeting recording

U.S. Forestry Protocol Working Group

Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024
9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Presentation Meeting recording

U.S. Forestry Protocol Working Group

Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2024
9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Presentation Meeting recording

Environmental Justice Working Group

Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024
9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Presentation Meeting Recording

U.S. Forestry Protocol Working Group

Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024
9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Presentation Meeting recording

Offsets Rulemaking Public Meeting

Monday, Oct. 21, 2024
9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Presentation Meeting recording

Environmental Justice Listening Session

Monday, Oct. 21, 2024
1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Presentation Session recording

Environmental Justice Working Group

Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024
9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Presentation Meeting recording

U.S. Forestry Protocol Working Group

Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024
9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Presentation Meeting Recording

Environmental Justice Working Group

Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024
9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Presentation Meeting Recording

U.S. Forestry Protocol Working Group

Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024
9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Presentation Meeting Recording

Environmental Justice Working Group

Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024
9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

  MEETING CANCELED

U.S. Forestry Protocol Working Group

Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025
9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Presentation Meeting Recording

U.S. Forestry Protocol Working Group

Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025
9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

  Register for meeting

Environmental Justice Working Group

Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025
9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

  MEETING CANCELED

Environmental Justice Working Group

Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025
9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

  Register for meeting

Environmental Justice Working Group

Wednesday, Mar. 26, 2025
9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

  Register for meeting

Environmental Justice Working Group

Wednesday, Apr. 23, 2025
9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

  Register for meeting

Environmental Justice Working Group

Wednesday, May 28, 2025
9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

  Register for meeting

Environmental Justice Working Group

Wednesday, June 25, 2025
9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

  Register for meeting

Environmental Justice Working Group

Wednesday, July 23, 2025
9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

  Register for meeting

Environmental Justice Working Group

Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025
9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

  Register for meeting
Webinar information

Register for each webinar to get your meeting ID and passcode.

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

Rule proposal phase (CR-102)

Filing date:
Feb. 12, 2025

Rule proposal documents:

Comment period

Comments due April 4, 2025 at 11:59 p.m.

You can submit comments through one of the following ways:

  • Submit comments online starting Feb. 12, 2025, at 12:00 a.m. until April 4, 2025, at 11:59 p.m.
  • Mail to:
    Kayla Stevenson
    For standard US Mail-
    Department of Ecology
    Climate Pollution Reduction
    Kayla Stevenson
    PO BOX 47600
    Olympia, WA 98504-7600

    For Parcel Service-
    Department of Ecology
    Climate Pollution Reducation 
    Kayla Stevenson
    300 Desmond Dr SE
    Lacey, WA 98503
     
  • Attend a Public Hearing – see below

The hearings will begin with a short presentation and question and answer session, followed by the opportunity to provide testimony.

Date:

March 25, 2025 1:00 P.M.
March 27, 2025 9:00 A.M.

Location: online (webinar) 
Register for the webinar to get your meeting ID and passcode.
To hear the webinar better or to call in only, use your phone (instead of the computer) to call 253-215-8782.

Accessibility: To request ADA accommodations, contact Ecology’s ADA Coordinator by March 18 at:

Additional languages

Español (Spanish) 中文 (Chinese) Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese) 한국어 (Korean) русский (Russian) український (Ukrainian)

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.