I am so proud of my State, my legislature, and my governor, Jay Inslee. Washington’s legislature just passed the most ambitious green transportation bill of any state in the country. Governor Inslee will sign it into law soon. I went to see Inslee sign the Clean Energy Bill three years ago.
Washington state sets target to end gas car sales by 2030
“Transportation is our state’s largest source of greenhouse gas emissions. There is no way to talk about climate change without talking about transportation,” said Washington Gov. Jay Inslee.
By Shirin Ali
- Washington state is poised to enact “Move Ahead Washington,” a pivotal climate change bill.
- The bill will ban the sale of gas-powered vehicles with a model year of 2030 or later.
- The state will also move to hybrid-electric ferries, install new electric vehicle charging stations and begin more transit electrification projects.
Washington is committing to going green as the state passed legislation to only allow the sale of electric cars beginning in 2030. The move is part of a larger climate change plan that focuses on overhauling the state’s transportation system.
Washington state lawmakers passed “Move Ahead Washington,” a package that includes major shifts to move the state’s transportation system to a cleaner, more efficient system. One of the most prominent goals is to require all new vehicles sold or registered in the state to be electric by 2030.
Data from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shows there’s been a nearly 23 percent increase in transportation emissions — the largest documented increase of all industries tracked by the EPA — from 1990 to 2019.
Washington state is hoping to address its role in contributing to national greenhouse gas emissions, as “Move Ahead Washington” includes investments in four new hybrid-electric ferries, tens of thousands of new electric vehicle charging stations, 25 additional transit electrification projects across the state and free fares for passengers 18 years and young on all public transportation.
In total, the state estimates the package will support about 2,390 construction and ferries.
Last year California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order to end sales of new cars and trucks powered by gasoline or diesel by 2035.
Years in the making, one climate bill is allowing legislators to boldly reinvent transportation in Washington. Here's how.
Gov. Jay Inslee is quick to seize any opportunity to pitch the urgency of climate change.
He’s just as passionate when in meetings with global leaders as when dropping in on a college classroom or bending ears outside a convenience store. He wrote a book 15 years ago about how to build the nation’s clean energy economy and remains every bit as bullish now as he scribbles notes on briefing documents from his staff.
The third-term governor has pursued ambitious policies that some influential voices doubted but have come to fruition in recent years including the nation’s most ambitious 100% clean electricity policy and a nation-leading clean buildings policy. He’s long promoted rapid electric vehicle adoption and made Washington a leading clean tech hub thanks in part to the launch of a state Clean Energy Fund and the Clean Energy Institute at University of Washington.
And this year, his climate action efforts are coming full circle in a big way.
Legislators this session approved a 16-year “Move Ahead Washington” transportation package unlike any other in the state’s history. It lays the foundation for a massive shift from simply building more lanes to moving people via cleaner, more efficient transportation options.
“Transportation is our state’s largest source of greenhouse gas emissions. There is no way to talk about climate change without talking about transportation,” Inslee said during the Friday morning signing event for the package. “This package will move us away from the transportation system our grand-parents imagined and towards the transportation system our grand-children dream of.”
I already made the transition. I bought a used Electric Vehicle last fall. On Friday I drove 150 miles and it cost me about $4.00 in electricity.
What is your state doing to reduce the effects of Climate Change? Please share.