Washington governor signs bill to update the state’s Clean Fuel Standard

May 20, 2025

BY Erin Voegele

Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson on May 17 signed a bill that sets more ambitious targets for the state’s Clean Fuel Standard. The new law requires a 45% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2038 when compared to a 2017 baseline. 

Washington’s CFS was established in 2021 and entered into force on Jan. 1, 2023. As originally established, the CFS required transportation fuel supplied within the state to achieve a GHG reduction of 20% by 2034, when compared to a 2017 baseline. The newly signed bill, HB 1409, boosts the GHG reduction requirement to 45% by Jan. 1, 2028.

HB 1409 phases in increased GHG reduction targets, starting with an additional 5% reduction required for 2026, and an additional 4% reduction for 2027, and an additional 3% to 4% reduction each year for 2028 to 2038, as determined by Washington Department of Ecology. The law also gives the agency the option to further increase GHG reduction targets after 2032 if certain conditions are met, up to a 55% reduction by 2038. 

Language included in the bill gives the Department of Ecology the ability to reduce GHG reduction targets due to fuel supply issues or certain other captors, and to and to cap the CI reduction requirement at 20% in 2030 and later years if it is unable to demonstrate that at least one new or expanded biofuel production facility within the state has received a siting, operating or environmental permit after Jan. 1, 2025.

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HB 1409 was first introduced in January. The Washington House voted to approve the bill on March 10 by a vote of 54 to 41. The Washington Senate voted 25 to 23 in favor of the legislation on April 15. The bill was delivered to the governor on April 23 and signed by Ferguson on May 17. 

A full copy of the bill is available on the Washington Legislature website.

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