Climate Commitment Act

Last week, Washington Governor Bob Ferguson signed legislation to give the agricultural community the farm fuel exemptions they were promised when the Climate Commitment Act was passed a few years ago.    House Bill 1912, sponsored by Moses Lake Republican Tom Dent, will make it easier for farmers to use the fuel exemption by establishing a public directory to find sellers who offer exempt fuel. 

On Tuesday, the Washington Senate held its first public hearing on House Bill 1912, the Fix to the Climate Commitment Act.  That hearing took place in the Environment, Energy & Technology Committee.  State senator Mark Schoesler said he feels the legislation sponsored by Representative Tom Dent is in good shape in the Senate.   “We have leaders li...

On Wednesday, the Washington State House voted 93-4 to approve House Bill 1912, providing fuel exemptions for the state’s farming community.  State Representative Tom Dent, sponsor of the legislation, says the bill aims to streamline the Climate Commitment Act fuel exemption the farming community was promised four years ago.  He noted the ...

Thursday, March 6th, was the halfway point of the Washington legislative session.  How has the farming community fared this go around in Olympia?   “We've not seen a lot of the bad stuff that we had expected," noted Colfax Representative Joe Schmick.  "But so far so goo...

MyLand, a company focused on regenerative agriculture, recently announced a new $4.8 million dollar effort to enhance soil health for farmers across Washington.  The program, funded in combination by the Washington State Department of Agriculture and Washington State Department of Commerce, focuses on supporting sustainable agricultural practices and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.   ... Read M

Legislation ensuring fuels used for agricultural purposes are exempt from the Climate Commitment Act has been introduced in the Washington House.  Moses Lake Representative Tom Dent, sponsor of House Bill 1912, said the legislation will fix the mistakes made when CCA passed four years ago.   “That is t...

There are a host of issues the Washington farming community is watching very closely this legislative session.  One that sparks some of the strongest emotions has to do with the Climate Commitment Act.  Despite being told the farming community would be exempt from the CCA, the Department of Ecology has yet to implement a system in which farmers and growers get what they were promised.   Jon DeVane

Last week, the Washington Tree Fruit sector took to Olympia to focus on legislative issues and the impact they will have on growers, packers and workers.  Jon DeVaney, President of the Washington State Tree Fruit Association said staff joined 41 volunteers for Tree Fruit Day, an effort to educate lawmakers about an industry that employs over 68,000 people and produces approximately $3 billion in a

Last week, legislation was introduced in the Washington House Environment and Energy Committee that would monitor methane emissions in dairy and beef cattle.  House Bill 1630, introduced by Olympia area Democrat Representative Lisa Parshley, states if Ecology finds an operation produces sufficient methane, they would likely need to come under the Climate Commitment Act as covered entities.   “You'

Legislation introduced in the Washington House Environment and Energy Committee looks to monitor methane emissions in dairy and beef cattle.  House Bill 1630 would require dairy farms and feed lots to report annually to the state Department of Ecology with the total metric tons of methane emitted the preceding calendar year.  The proposal...