OLYMPIA, WA–Tonight, with the 2024 Washington legislative session officially ending, Washington’s Environmental Priorities Coalition (EPC) celebrates its legislative and budget victories, including passage of 100% Clean School Buses (HB 1368), and an estimated $1.2 billion in Climate Commitment Act funding for critical needs in communities.
The final budget includes funding to reduce dangerous pollution that causes climate change; improve air quality in schools, homes, and businesses; tap into carbon benefits in forests, natural areas, and agricultural lands; and support low and moderate income households through energy assistance and access to climate solutions.
“It’s an exciting time for climate action. Funding from the Climate Commitment Act is being put to work and positively impacting every community in the state,” said Darcy Nonemacher, Government Affairs Director for Washington Conservation Action. “After the first round of budgeting with these climate dollars, the potential for win/win solutions that support people and tackle the climate crisis is remarkable.”
The supplemental budget’s climate investments build on roughly $2.1 billion of approved projects and programs in the biennial budget. Funding is starting to reach communities across the state, including replacing oil and gas heating systems with heat pumps, deploying clean energy, workforce development, tapping natural climate solutions, and directing funds to community-based efforts and Tribal Nations.
HB 1368, the 100% Clean School Buses EPC priority, strengthens an existing grant program that funds the purchase of zero-emission school buses, and provides increased funding via the Climate Commitment Act for the purchase of buses and charging infrastructure to make the transition successful.
“When I learned about HB 1368, I instantly recognized its potential to improve the health of school kids across the state like me, as well as reduce the climate impacts affecting the survival of birds and wildlife,” said Will Merg, 8th grader and member of the Spokane Audubon Society. “Investing in zero-emissions school buses will reduce health risks associated with air pollution and improve the quality of life for all residents, especially kids like me who deserve safe and healthy transportation to school.”
HB 1368 outlines when new school buses must be zero-emission. This will begin when zero-emission buses are the cost-effective choice and their upfront cost plus fuel and maintenance is less than diesel options, which experts anticipate to be the case in five years or less.
“A quiet, safe and healthy ride to school creates a better learning environment for our kids, while addressing harmful climate pollution and cleaning up the air in our communities,” said Leah Missik, Acting Washington Director, Climate Solutions (member organization of the EPC). “This is a terrific victory, and we’re grateful to Representative Senn for championing this priority and getting it across the finish line this year. A clean future is in sight for Washington.”
The ReWRAP Act did not pass during the 2024 legislative session. The EPC will work to strengthen the ReWRAP Act in the interim for passage in 2025. Additionally, the Hold Oil Companies Accountable Priority, a consumer protection bill, did not make it through, but this was the first year the EPC brought this bill forward. Given the huge bill and its implications, there were many lessons learned to make the bill stronger for passage in 2025.
Partnership Agenda: After 5 years of advocacy, the legislature passed Buy Clean, Buy Fair legislation, (HB 1282), which requires disclosure of the carbon intensity of specific building materials for large state projects. Data collected under the bill will be kept in a publicly available database for use in future public projects and to support private consumers in their purchasing decisions.
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Environmental Priorities Coalition is made up of 27 statewide environmental organizations working to safeguard the environment and the health of its communities through policy and budget advocacy at the Washington State Legislature. Every year, the Coalition comes together to select priorities to advance during the legislative session.
