By Todd Welch / Herald Forum
This November, Washington voters face a critical decision on Initiative 2117, which would repeal the state’s Climate Commitment Act.
While the CCA’s goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions are laudable, the legislation has proven to be a costly and ineffective approach that burdens Washington families and businesses. Voters should support I-2117 to correct this misguided policy.
Hidden costs of good intentions: The CCA passed in 2021 and established a cap-and-invest program to reduce carbon emissions. However, its implementation has resulted in significant unintended consequences.
• Soaring fuel prices: Despite promises of minimal impact, the CCA has added an estimated 43 cents per gallon to gasoline prices and 53 cents to diesel in its first year alone. This hidden tax disproportionately affects working-class families and small businesses struggling with inflation.
• Economic burden: The program has extracted nearly $1.8 billion from Washington’s economy since its inception. This massive wealth transfer from citizens to government coffers comes when many face financial hardship.
• Minimal environmental impact: For all its costs, the CCA’s effect on global climate change is negligible. Washington state’s emissions are a tiny fraction of global output, and even drastic local reductions will have little measurable impact on climate trends.
A better path forward: Repealing the CCA through I-2117 would not mean abandoning environmental goals. Rather, it would allow Washington to pursue more effective and less economically damaging approaches to emissions reduction:
• Invest in innovation: Direct funds toward research and development of clean energy technologies that can be adopted globally.
• Improve infrastructure: Modernize the power grid and transportation systems to accommodate cleaner energy sources.
• Incentivize; don’t punish: Offer tax breaks and grants for businesses and individuals adopting low-emission technologies rather than imposing blanket taxes.
• Regional cooperation: Work with neighboring states on coordinated efforts that don’t put Washington at a competitive disadvantage.
Accountability and transparency: The CCA’s complex cap-and-invest system lacks transparency and is vulnerable to market manipulation. I-2117 would eliminate this opaque system and prevent state agencies from implementing similar programs in the future. This ensures that any future climate policies are straightforward and accountable to voters.
Washington’s attempt to lead on climate policy through the CCA has proven to be a costly experiment with dubious benefits. Initiative 2117 offers voters the chance to course-correct without abandoning environmental goals. By repealing the CCA, we can pursue more effective, economically sound strategies for addressing climate change that don’t place undue burdens on Washington families and businesses.
It’s time to admit that the CCA is not the right solution for Washington despite its good intentions. Vote yes on I-2117 to repeal this flawed legislation and pave the way for more intelligent, balanced climate policies.
Todd Welch lives in Everett.
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