b'2023 WPMA State ReportWASHINGTON Independent Distributors of Energy (Association) ReportWashington Marketers Prepare for Challengesthis Upcoming Legislative Session, Plus Save the Date for Holiday Party and Day on the Hill.Holiday Party, Instead of addressing flaws with the CCA, Governor Inslee Topgolf in Renton, WA has stated that he will be proposing legislation next year modeled after legislation recently passed in California. Lea McCulloughMark your calendars for DecemberSpecifically, the legislation would require oil companies, WA Association7that Topgolf for our annual Holiday Party!throughout the entire supply chain, to open their books and Executive Director This event will only be improved upon frombe transparent about their profits. It would also establish last year, and we look forward to hosting ourpenalties if price gouging was actually occurring. membership and friends of the industry toWashington to Pursue Linkagecelebrate this years Holiday Season.with Carbon Markets in CA and QuebecTo register and save your spot and sponsor- Washington State Directorof Ecology Laura Watson ship, visit: https://www.wpma.com/washington/ recently announced that Washington state will pursue linking calendar-of-events/2023-washington-holiday- Washington States carbon market to the carbon markets in party-2023/registration California and Quebec. In announcing this decision,Golf Bay Sponsorships are avail- Ecology released a preliminary analysis report on able, and we encourage you toOctober 12 for cap and trade linkage criteria. The sign up early!real reason for linking the carbon markets is the hope that it will drive the price down to purchase Legislative Session to begin credits and in turn help lower fuel prices head-on January 8th, 2024 ing into an election year. Washington state legislatorsareWhile spending time with WSPA Members gearing up for the upcoming legislative ses- from California at recent meetings, it was sion which will begin on January 8, 2024,addressed that California may not have the but prior to that they will be hosting theirappetite to link with Washington as it could annual Assembly Days in Olympia. This isincrease California creditssomething those aimpan opportunity for legislative committees totaxpayers are not open to. lyhold work sessions for legislators to outline Oinpriorities for the 2024 legislative session. olThe Climate Commitment Act lays out in detail itW ashingt ate Cap the considerations and evaluations that Ecology on StThe Senate will host Assembly Days on Novem- needs to complete before signing on to a linkage ber 30 and December 1. The House will host theiragreement with California and Qubec. Specifically, the Assembly Days on December 4 and 5. Some notable workCCA establishes criteria to ensure linkage would benefit sessions scheduled include: Climate Commitment Act fuelWashingtons communities, economy, and climate goals.surcharges, updates on the Climate Commitment Act andIn addition, Ecology must ensure that a linkage agreement budget update. would reduce compliance costs, ensure seamless sale and Washington Bringing in Higher tracking of allowances, and maintain market security. Than Anticipated Revenues FromCap and Trade Auctions Next, the law directs Ecology to conduct an Environmental Washington state has brought in $1.3 billion in revenuesJustice Assessment in order to evaluate the potential impacts from their carbon auctions this year. At this pace, the state isof the linkage agreement on Washington communities that expected to bring in a billion more than anticipated by nextbear more than their share of pollution, and that face eco-year. How to spend the increased revenue will be part of thenomic and health challenges. discussions during the upcoming legislative session.Finally, the law requires that Ecology consult with the Washington state has also been fluctuating as either the high- public, Tribes, businesses, the states Environmental Justice est or second highest fuel prices in the nation. Instead of rec- Council and other stakeholders before signing onto a linkage ognizing the impacts of the Climate Commitment Act (CCA)agreement. Ecology has indicated that the earliest Washing-on increased fuel prices, Governor Jay Inslee and legislatorston could begin operating in the linked market is 2025 or who supported the CCA have blamed the petroleum industrylater. However, it is still unclear if California and Quebec on price gouging.want to link to Washingtons market. WPMA News / Winter 202335'