Washington State Clean Cars 2030 Bill Signed Into Law

Coltura’s work in Washington State has paid off! On March 25, 2022, Washington State Governor Jay Inslee signed into law a bill (see page 88) setting a date of 2030 for all new cars registered in the state to be electric. The measure, known as Clean Cars 2030, sets the most aggressive state target in the U.S. for the phaseout of gasoline cars – a full five years ahead of California’s 2035 deadline – and establishes an interagency council tasked with creating a plan for achieving the 2030 target. Coltura led the effort to get this bill introduced and led the coalition that helped pass it.

Passed as part of “Move Ahead Washington,” a nearly $17 billion transportation package, Clean Cars 2030 will spur public and private investment in EVs and EV charging infrastructure and help Washingtonians save money on vehicle fuel and maintenance while enjoying cleaner air and water. Read more about Washington State’s 2030 goal to phase out gas cars.

“The war in Ukraine and the burden of high gas prices on families demonstrate the importance of ending our dependence on gasoline and preparing for an all-electric transportation future,” said Matthew Metz, co-executive director of Coltura, a nonprofit focused on phasing out the use of gasoline. “By targeting 2030 as an end date for the sales of gasoline cars in Washington, Clean Cars 2030 gives confidence to consumers, automakers, utilities, investors, and others that now is the time to go all-in on an all-EV future.”

“Clean Cars 2030 outlines a clear path forward for the future of the electric vehicle transition in our state,” said Senator Marko Liias. “This part of our Move Ahead Washington plan will create a timeline with the data, tools, and guidelines that every sector from governments to businesses can plan for with confidence. This is a monumental step towards reducing our carbon emissions in Washington, and I’m proud that Washington is once again a leader in addressing the climate crisis.”

“Clean Cars 2030 puts Washington on the road to powering its vehicles with cheap, clean, renewable electricity produced in-state and reduces the threat that oil and gasoline pose to our air, water, health, and economy,” said Representative Nicole Macri, who first introduced the measure in 2020.

Research commissioned by Coltura and conducted by Yale University, George Mason University, and Climate Nexus found 55 percent of voters nationally support a full phaseout of gasoline cars starting in 2030. Bolstered by its success in Washington, Coltura is leading coalitions working to pass similar Clean Cars 2030 measures in other states. For instance, Coltura was instrumental in passage of a Massachusetts law mandating a government plan (section 80) to achieve 100% of cars sold being zero emission by 2035 and introduction of a Rhode Island bill setting a target for all new light duty vehicles to be electric by 2027.

Clean Cars 2030 will:

• Put Washington on the road to powering its vehicles with locally-produced electricity that is cleaner and cheaper than gasoline.
• Spur a comprehensive planning process for Washington to get ready for 100% vehicle electrification.
• Clarify for local governments, automakers, charging companies, utilities, investors, landlords, and workplaces the direction of the state’s EV market.
• Incentivize private-sector investment in new EVs and charging stations.
• Increase opportunities for Washingtonians to save money on gasoline.
• Reduce the cost and uncertainty of dependence on foreign sources of oil.
• Reduce carbon emissions and air pollution and the threat they pose to air, water, and health.

Coltura began working on Clean Cars 2030 in 2017. Beginning in 2019-2020, Coltura spearheaded a diverse coalition of more than 25 organizations that successfully advocated for the passage of the Clean Cars 2030 bill in Washington State. The coalition included leading environmental, social justice, and faith groups across the state. The 2030 date established in the bill for the transition away from gasoline vehicles also attracted the support of the automotive and business community.

WHY WILL CLEAN CARS 2030 WORK?

Electric cars already perform better than gas cars and are way less expensive to operate.

We already have all the technology we need for a clean Washington-powered future. We just need to deploy it with the certainty that the market is going all-electric.

Clean Cars 2030 will allow everyone to plan and invest with confidence in a 100% clean, Washington-powered transportation future.

Background On Clean Cars 2030

Clean Cars 2030 was inspired by plans in eight countries to phase out gas cars by 2030. Coltura was the first organization in the United States to advance gas car phaseout policies.

Clean Cars 2030 was first introduced as part of the 2020 legislative session by Rep. Nicole Macri as HB 2515. The bill advanced to a successful hearing in the House Transportation Committee in the short 2020 legislative session. In 2021, the bill passed the legislature, but was vetoed by Gov. Inslee due to an unwanted amendment attached to it.

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SUPPORTERS

AUDUBON • NRDC • CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY • CLIMATE SOLUTIONS • ENVIRONMENT WASHINGTON • GREEN LATINOS • EARTH MINISTRY/WASHINGTON INTERFAITH POWER & LIGHT • LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS • PLUG IN AMERICA • STAND.EARTH • THE NATURE CONSERVANCY • 350 SEATTLE • 350 TACOMA • WASHINGTON PHYSICIANS FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY • WASHPIRG • WASHINGTON SOLAR ENERGY INDUSTRY ASSN. • CLIPPER CREEK • BAINBRIDGE CLIMATE ACTION • OUR CLIMATE • WASHINGTON STATE DEMOCRATS ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE CAUCUS • FAITH ACTION NETWORK •

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QUESTIONS & ANSWERS ON CLEAN CARS 2030

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HOW WILL CLEAN CARS 2030 HELP WORKING FAMILIES?

• EVs lower total costs of vehicle ownership, primarily via lower fuel costs and less maintenance for EVs.
  • Electricity as a vehicle fuel is on average 1/3 the cost of gasoline in Washington. Fuel to drive from Yakima to Seattle in an electric Hyundai Kona electric SUV costs $2.27, vs $11.36 in the gas-powered Kona SUV. Electric vehicles require less maintenance, with only about 20 moving parts as opposed to gas cars’ 2,000 parts.
  • Reduces the likelihood of a major car repair –the largest source of financial shock for American households each year. 
• Clean Cars 2030 will lower up front costs of electric vehicles (and improves offerings) by requiring automakers to compete to sell their brand of vehicles in an all-electric vehicle market.
• Clean Cars 2030 will lower electricity rates for all Washingtonians – not only those who drive an electric vehicle. It does this by allowing utilities to sell more electricity, over stable fixed costs.

• It will lower health care costs for Washingtonians, through fewer doctor visits for patients and lowered health insurance premiums and tax burdens for the broader public.
• It enables savings of many hours spent on gas station fill-ups and mechanical car maintenance.

HOW WILL CLEAN CARS 2030 IMPROVE HEALTH?

• Clean Cars 2030 addresses vehicle emissions from gas cars, a major contributor to air pollution, as well as increased rates of asthma, heart and lung diseases, dementia and cancers.

HOW WILL CLEAN CARS 2030 HELP THE ENVIRONMENT?

• Addresses gasoline and diesel on-road transportation emissions, the single biggest source of human-caused carbon dioxide emissions in Washington, at 30.6% of total emissions.
• Lowers volumes of petroleum, motor oil, lubricants and other internal combustion engine car fluids released from gas cars and trucks into Puget Sound and other waterways (7 million quarts a year into Puget Sound alone), reducing a significant threat to chinook salmon and other marine life.
• Reduces the environmental destruction (including spills, explosions, habitat disruption, and land, air and water contamination) connected with oil exploration, drilling, extraction, transportation, refining, use and waste product disposal.
• Decreases the market for gasoline and the crude oil it comes from, removing the financial basis for oil exploration and drilling projects.

HOW WILL CLEAN CARS 2030 IMPROVE THE ECONOMY?

• Clean Cars 2030 moves billions of dollars to the Washington domestic economy from imported crude oil.
• It gives Washingtonians control over pricing and sources of transportation fuel; insulates Washingtonians from volatile oil prices.
• Puts Washington businesses, utilities, and government on the leading edge of the EV revolution; helps ensure EV automakers, EV charging infrastructure companies, battery companies, EV startups, and EV-related products and services companies remain competitive as the global trend towards vehicle electrification continues.
• Sends a clear signal that the gasoline era is ending. The phaseout date creates certainty for investors, automakers and parts suppliers, the EV charging industry, utilities and governments that the shift to clean vehicles will happen, helping them plan for the transition and ensure it takes place in a smooth, orderly fashion.

HOW WILL CLEAN CARS 2030 ADVANCE ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE?

• Clean Cars 2030 allows 900,000 Washingtonians who live near roadways to breathe cleaner air.
• Helps avoid the health impacts of gas car emissions, including asthma, heart and lung disease, dementia and cancers, and related educational, financial, and quality-of-life detriments that impact disadvantaged communities and communities of color the most.
• Expands options for low income residents to lower their vehicle fuel costs via discounted electricity rates (vs gasoline, which costs the same for everyone).

HOW WILL CLEAN CARS 2030 EXPAND CONSUMER CHOICE?

• Ensures a wide selection of makes and models of clean: trucks, SUVs, sports cars, CUVs, luxury vehicles, compact cars and everything in between, with automakers offering competitive prices to compete for drivers’ business.
• Enables drivers to travel by personal vehicle without also having to pollute the air and cause harm to health and climate.
• Frees drivers from having to purchase fuel at toxic gas stations with prices set by volatile global markets.
• Facilitates a future in which drivers can fuel from the comfort of home, and make their own fuel from sun and wind.

HOW WILL CLEAN CARS 2030 IMPROVE THE ELECTRIC GRID?

• Enables more clean, renewable electricity on the grid, with EVs acting as battery storage units.
• Enables avoidance of costs of building new power plants.
• Enables reduction of grid operating costs by balancing supply and demand.
• Supports emergency-response situations (in which power can be provided from EV batteries).

HOW WILL CLEAN CARS 2030 BENEFIT TAXPAYERS?

• Clean Cars 2030 provides the cheapest, most effective policy to get more clean cars on the road. Washington has 6.4 million passenger vehicles, and sells 302,000 new vehicles/year. With the legislation, beginning in 2030, all 302,000 new vehicles will be electric — with no taxpayer outlay.

 HOW WILL CLEAN CARS 2030 IMPROVE POLITICS?

• Reduces the need to risk the lives of troops to secure supplies of oil.
• Loosens the oil lobby’s grip on Washington politicians.

HOW WILL CLEAN CARS 2030 CREATE JOBS?

• The bill will create new jobs in Washington related to transportation electrification in areas such as auto design and manufacture, charging infrastructure, public awareness/education, grid upgrades and operation, battery manufacture, electronics/software, research and development and innovation.
• Economic growth from fuel cost savings increases average real wages and employment across the economy (even for those who don’t buy a new EV). On average, a dollar saved at the gas pump and spent on the other goods and services that households want creates 16 times more jobs.
• Expands fuel supply work from a few giant corporations that have controlled the fuel system for decades to create new companies and job opportunities.

IS MY REPRESENTATIVE A CO-SPONSOR?

• Current sponsors include Representatives Macri, Chopp, Ramos, Kloba, Simmons, Senn, Berry, Fitzgibbon, Ramel, Duerr, Ortiz-Self, Goodman, Slatter, Bateman, Pollet, Harris-Talley and Senators Liias, Nguyen, Cleveland, Conway, Das, Hunt, Kuderer, Lovelett, Pedersen, Rolfes, Saldaña, and Wellman.

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Clean Cars 2030 In The News

• The Hill, 3/28/22 Washington state sets target to end gas car sales by 2030
• GM Authority, 3/28/22 State of Washington to Ban Gas Powered Vehicles by 2030
• NBC News, 3/26/22 Washington state plans to ban most non-electric vehicles by 2030
• Electrek, 3/25/22 Washington passes bill to target all EV sales by 2030 – for real this time (Updated)
• GeekWire, 3/11/22, Washington state lawmakers go big on EV battery charging, scale back near-term rebates (this is a second GeekWire story)KGMI Radio, 3/14/22, Matthew Metz: Electric Cars in Washington StateElectrek, 3/11/22, Washington passes bill to ban gas car sales by 2030 – for real this time?Green Car Congress, 3/14/22, Washington state legislature approves $16.9B transportation package; targeting all new cars to be electric with MY 2030Utility Dive, 3/14/22, Washington legislators again mandate 100% electric new car sales by 2030NGT News, 3/11/22, Washington Targets 2030 as Year to End New Gasoline Vehicle Sales in State
• Electrek, 5/13/21, WA Gov. Inslee vetoes 2030 gas car ban, citing road usage fee concerns
• Utility Dive, 4/20/21, Washington OKs bill setting path to 100% EVs by 2030, prods utilities to prep for grid impacts
• Grist, 4/19/21, Washington Zooms Ahead on EVs
• Business Insider, 4/16/21, Washington state sets 2030 target date for banning the sale of gas-powered cars
• The Columbian, 3/7/21, In Our View: Electric-vehicle bill is an important small step
• Charged Electric Vehicles Magazine, 3/1/21, Washington raises the stakes with California, proposing to phase out gas cars by 2030
• Herald Net, 2/26/21, Editorial: Goal or mandate, encourage move to electric cars
• Bloomberg Law, 2/25/21, EV Boost Must Cover Environmental Justice, Advocates Say
• Jalopnik, 2/24/21, Washington State Legislative Committee Aims For Ambitious EV Adoption Mandate In Nine Years
• Autoweek, 2/24/21, Washington State Bill Aims to Mandate EV-Only Sales by 2030
• Electrek, 2/23/21, Washington state advances bill to ban gas cars by 2030, one-upping California
• The Suburban Times, 2/23/21, Letter: Clean Cars are my future
• Green Car Congress, 2/23/21, Washington State House Committee advances legislation mandating all-electric new LDV sales by MY 2030
• The Center Square, 2/22/21, Washington Democrats, GOP pave way for gas tax fight on long road to transportation budget
• Bainbridge Review, 2/20/21, Ambitious Plan
• Kitsap Sun, 2/19/21, Changing the status quo on what we drive
• The News Tribune, 2/19/21, Let’s set a deadline, Washington: Make all new vehicles electric in next 10 years
• The Hill, 2/17/21, Driving toward a 2030 phaseout of gas cars in Washington state
• PBS, 2/8/2021, Gas Powered Vehicle Phase Out
• KXLY, 2/4/2021, New bill could require electric-only cars be sold in Washington
• Utility Dive, 2/3/2021, As GM gives ‘huge’ boost to EVs, states vary in advancing supportive policies, reports find
• Road Show, 2/3/2021, Gas-powered cars face 2030 ban in new Washington state legislation
• The Hill, 2/3/2021, Washington state bill would require all new cars be electric by 2030
• ABC News, 2/3/2021, Washington state may require all new cars sold be electric by 2030
• Green Car Congress, 2/1/2021, Washington state legislature considering bill mandating all-electric LDVs after MY 2030
• Green Car Reports, 2/1/2021, Washington State bill would make new cars and trucks all-electric by 2030
• KIRO, 2/1/2021, Local organization pushes WA bill that would mandate electric cars by 2030
• KUOW/Northwest News Network, 2/1/2021, Washington lawmakers consider shifting all new car sales to electric-only by 2030
• Urbanist, 2/1/2021, Macri Bill Proposes Banning New Fossil Fuel Cars in 2030