Rep. Deb Manjarrez seeks transparency and accountability with timely reporting of climate emissions data
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Rep. Deb Manjarrez seeks transparency and accountability with timely reporting of climate emissions data
Given the millions of dollars Washington state has invested in its climate policies, Rep. Deb Manjarrez says it is time to determine whether the state’s greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) reduction policies are working.
The 14th District lawmaker has introduced legislation, House Bill 2150, that would require the Washington State Department of Ecology to publish a complete greenhouse gas emissions inventory starting on Jan. 1, 2027, and update it quarterly.
“This is about transparency and accountability. It is not fair to our taxpayers, who are paying more than a dollar per gallon of gas than the national average, to tell them our emissions programs are benefiting us if we are working from data that is five years old,” said Manjarrez, R-Wapato.
Currently, state law requires the department to report on the greenhouse gas emissions of every sector of Washington’s economy for the preceding two years by the end of each even-numbered year. The most recent data the department has reported only covers emissions through 2021. Since then, the Climate Commitment Act, the Clean Fuel Standard, and new energy standards for commercial buildings have been adopted.
“Without current inventory, we do not know if we are reducing emissions. We do know that the greenhouse gas emissions reduction policies the Legislature has implemented have imposed substantial compliance costs on consumers, businesses, utilities, fuel suppliers and local governments,” added Manjarrez. “We owe it to them to find out if our GHG emissions reduction policies are effective and worth the cost.”
If state agencies fail to meet the quarterly reporting deadlines, the greenhouse gas emissions reduction policies would cease to be enforced. This includes the Zero Emission Vehicle program, the hydrofluorocarbon and refrigerant standards and programs, the Climate Commitment Act, the Clean Fuels Program, the Clean Energy Transformation Act, and the building energy use performance standards.
“Our taxpayers should not be footing the bill for these programs if the department cannot verify greenhouse gases are being reduced in meaningful amounts,” Manjarrez concluded.
Manjarrez hopes to secure a public hearing on HB 2150 when the Legislature convenes on Jan. 12.
