Washington Enters the Western Climate Initiative

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The start of the new year marks the official launch of Washington's cap-and-invest program

In 2021, Washington passed the Climate Commitment Act (CCA), a major piece of environmental legislation geared towards decarbonizing the state. Within the CCA, the state set out to achieve net-zero carbon emissions and a 95% GHG reduction below 1990 levels by 2050 with interim targets of a 45% reduction by 2030 and 70% by 2040. The implementation of a cap-and-invest program was designed to be the cornerstone of the state’s decarbonization efforts– covering 75% of state emissions. Washington’s membership in the Western Climate Initiative (WCI) will further allow the state to facilitate a comprehensive and adaptable market structure and provide access ...