Low Carbon Fuels Bill

Low Carbon Fuels Bill

Bob Larson
Bob Larson
I'm Bob Larson. In what may be the biggest Rural V Urban measure in Olympia, the state House approved a bill that would authorize the Department of Ecology to implement a California-style low carbon fuel standard.

House Republicans like Andrew Barkis of Olympia are against it saying the proposal is one of the costliest mechanisms with unproven environmental results and will significantly increase the price of goods and gas ...

BARKIS ... "I'm afraid of them having to pay at the pump 13, 15, 30 cents more a gallon. The citizens of this state have spoken. Many, many times. And they made it clear on this particular type of policy. They said no. And we need to say no again tonight."

The 14th District's Chris Corry says when gas prices soar, it will affect those who can least afford it. ...

CORRY ... "This is a regressive tax. It's going to cost our low-and middle-income families more money and that is not right. We shouldn't be doing that. They are stretched enough."

Representative Tom Dent is a rancher from Moses Lake ...

DENT ... "And this is going to hurt my district. And the people. My phone has been sitting here this evening with texts coming from my constituents saying, 'This is ridiculous. We can't have this. We can't go there. We can't do this!'"

Unified House Republicans, like Spokane Valley's Matt Shea, says there are better ways to reduce carbon ...

SHEA ... "The greatest thing we can do to reduce greenhouse gases in Washington state and that is manage our forests better. Period. End of story. Eight to 10 million tons of CO2 released every year from catastrophic wildfires. Just one year would do more than the plan that is proposed over 10."

In the end, two Democrats crossed over to vote against the measure. However, it wasn't enough to stop the bill that passed on a 53-43 vote.

The measure now heads to the Senate for further consideration.

Previous ReportH-2A Fees Bill Passes Senate
Next ReportWildfire Prevention Bill Pt 1