Inslee Proposes $626 Million in Climate Legislation

Governor Jay Inslee is proposing $626 million dollars in new climate legislation for the upcoming legislative session.

Inslee said the state still needs to reduce emissions by 6 million metric tons annually, which would be the equivalent of taking 1.3 million vehicles off of the road.

Several times he brought up the fact that combating emissions within the state is not just an ethical decision, but a legal one. Previous legislation passed in Washington State mandates that emissions must be brought down to various levels over time.

The governor is also prioritizing the state's 2nd largest source of emissions: construction.

"Our Strengthening Energy Codes Act tackles emissions for new construction by requiring all new construction projects to be net zero-ready by 2034," stated Inslee.

Inslee is also proposing the Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Building Act, which would expand the state's emissions standards to old buildings over 20,000 square feet, including multi-family buildings.

Other proposals include $100 million in grants to put solar panels on buildings, rebates for certain electric car purchases, and $1.9 million for the creation of the Office of Climate Commitment Accountability.

Inslee's full climate proposal can be found here.