Vote no on I-2117

In November, Washingtonians will be voting on Ballot Initiative 2117. For our planet and our future, Environment Washington urges voters to vote no on I-2117.

I-2117 would repeal a critical climate policy in Washington

I-2117 calls for the repeal of the Climate Commitment Act. The Climate Commitment Act, often referred to as the CCA, passed the Washington State legislature in 2021. The CCA established a cap-and-invest program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 95% by 2050 in Washington State. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is essential because these gases trap heat in the earth’s atmosphere, creating a warming effect that impacts the earth’s climate.

The CCA sets a limit on the state’s total greenhouse gas emissions, and requires businesses to purchase allowances for their emissions, generating a revenue stream that is invested into critical climate policies. Over time, the state’s total greenhouse gas limit gradually reduces, benefiting the environment by lowering the amount of harmful emissions being released into the atmosphere, and protecting our air and water quality.

As the second statewide cap-and-invest program in the country, the passage of the CCA cemented Washington as a leader in climate policy and bolstered our ability to protect our climate and communities from pollution. Passage of the CCA came after a long-fought battle, and repealing the program would be a direct hit to the funding and mechanisms that help us protect our environment.

I-2117 would prohibit future carbon tax programs in Washington

In addition to repealing the CCA, I-2117 would prohibit all state agencies from implementing any carbon tax credit trading programs in the future. This would include cap-and-trade and cap-and-tax programs. These types of programs can incentivize pollution reduction and investment in more efficient technology. Losing access to these programs would make it challenging for Washington to use market mechanisms to reduce air and water pollution.

Washington benefits from the Climate Commitment Act

In addition to reducing pollution and protecting air and water quality, the CCA also acts as a central funding mechanism for critical climate projects throughout Washington. Auctions are held by the Department of Ecology, during which businesses purchase emission allowances. Money from these auctions is distributed and invested by the state legislature into climate friendly infrastructure, energy efficiency programs and clean energy alternatives.

If I-2117 is passed, the CCA would be repealed thirty days after the election. Almost instantly, Washington would lose one of our primary tools in fighting climate change and building climate resilience, and would be prohibited from developing similar tools in the future.

Vote No on I-2117

By voting No on I-2117, Washingtonians can guarantee continued funding for essential climate-friendly policies and programs throughout the Evergreen State. In 2023 alone, $3.2 billion was allocated from CCA revenue for climate-focused projects. This includes:

• $1.5 billion for clean transportation investment, including public transit grants, ferry electrification and active transportation projects such as bike trails
• $528 million in clean buildings, including low-income household electrification and heat pump installations, state facility retrofitting and energy efficiency performance grants
• $363 million in clean energy development, including solar panel installations and battery storage projects

Washingtonians can show our commitment to climate policy and our continued role as a leader of climate action and investment by refuting this attempt to unravel our hard-won progress. By defending the CCA, Washington would send a signal to other states showing our dedication to capping greenhouse gas emissions and investing in long-term climate solutions.

This election, Washingtonians must defend our climate-friendly policies. The CCA, and the funding it provides, are essential investments in the long-term protection of our state and planet. Vote no on I-2117, and help the Evergreen State continue our progress towards a cleaner future.

Paid for by Environment Washington