Energy

in committee · Washington · House Jan 13, 2026

HB 2090: Integrating advanced nuclear energy into the state energy strategy.

HB 2090 directs Washington’s Department of Commerce to develop a strategic framework for integrating advanced nuclear energy into the state’s clean energy goals. The plan, due by December 2026, would assess how nuclear power could help meet Washington’s targets for 100% clean electricity by 2045, including evaluating siting, permitting, financing, and workforce needs - particularly at former coal sites or the Hanford area. It would examine opportunities for state collaboration with other regions and recommend policies like expediting permits or financial incentives to support nuclear development. The bill does not fund nuclear projects but requires the state to explore nuclear as a potential pathway to replace current fossil fuel generation and achieve decarbonization goals more efficiently.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill mandates framework to integrate advanced nuclear into clean energy strategy targeting 100% clean electricity by 2045, positioning nuclear as a clean energy solution.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Coal Nuclear Renewable Energy

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passed · Washington · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 5941: Allowing limited exemptions to renewable energy systems requirements for certain school districts.

SB 5941 allows small school districts (with 500 or fewer students) in specific rural counties to be exempt from requiring renewable energy systems (like solar panels) in new school buildings over 10,000 square feet. The bill requires the state building code council to create this exemption by January 1, 2027, without forcing districts to meet additional energy efficiency requirements to qualify. It directly affects eligible school districts in counties designated as one climate zone under existing law, such as Adams, Benton, and Yakima. The exemption applies only to new construction or major additions, not existing buildings.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyAllows exemptions from renewable energy requirements for small rural schools, weakening mandatory clean energy adoption standards.95% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill exempts rural school districts from renewable energy requirements, weakening environmental standards for new school buildings.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Energy Efficiency Renewable Energy Solar

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signed · Washington · House May 20, 2025

HB 2077: Establishing a tax on certain business activities related to surpluses generated under the zero-emission vehicle program.

House Bill 2077 establishes a new tax on certain vehicle manufacturers. This tax applies to profits generated from surplus zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) credits, which are earned when a manufacturer exceeds the state's ZEV sales requirements. The bill requires the Department of Ecology to share manufacturers' ZEV credit activity with the Department of Revenue, and manufacturers must report the prices of ZEV credit transactions. The collected tax revenue is intended to be reinvested into programs that further promote cleaner vehicles.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates new tax on ZEV credit profits, with revenue reinvested into programs, aligning with funding public initiatives per topic indicators.90% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyTax on ZEV credit surpluses funds clean energy programs, advancing renewable energy infrastructure per bill's reinvestment intent.90% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentTax on ZEV credit profits reduces manufacturer incentive to exceed ZEV requirements, weakening program effectiveness despite revenue reinvestment into environmental programs.85% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill taxes ZEV credit profits and reinvests revenue to promote zero-emission vehicles, a sustainable transportation initiative.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Revenue Electric Vehicles

signed · Washington · House May 12, 2025

HB 1329: Concerning wholesale power purchases by electric utilities under the Washington clean energy transformation act.

HB 1329 amends the Washington Clean Energy Transformation Act (CETA) concerning how certain wholesale power purchases are classified. The bill modifies the definition of a "coal-fired resource" by expanding the duration for specific limited-term wholesale electricity purchases that are exempt from this classification. Under the new provisions, electric utilities can make wholesale power purchases for up to three months, or up to six months for system sales used for seasonal resource adequacy, without these being counted as coal-fired resources under CETA. This aims to provide utilities with more flexibility in acquiring short-term power, provided these exemptions are not used to avoid CETA's overall restrictions on coal-fired energy.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyAmends CETA to allow longer-term non-coal power purchases, facilitating clean energy integration by exempting specific purchases from coal classification.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentAmends CETA to expand exemptions for short-term non-coal power purchases, facilitating clean energy transition under Washington's clean energy law.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Coal Renewable Energy

signed · Washington · House May 13, 2025

HB 1514: Encouraging the deployment of low carbon thermal energy networks.

HB 1514, titled "Encouraging the deployment of low carbon thermal energy networks," amends state law to explicitly allow existing electrical and gas companies to own, operate, or manage thermal energy networks within Washington state. The bill expands the definitions of "electrical company" and "gas company" in RCW 80.04.010 to include this authority. This change aims to encourage the deployment of low-carbon heating and cooling infrastructure by enabling utility companies to develop and provide these services. This legislation became Chapter 263, 2025 Laws, and will be effective on July 27, 2025.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill explicitly enables utility companies to deploy low-carbon thermal networks, promoting clean energy infrastructure development per its title and summary.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill explicitly promotes low-carbon thermal energy networks, enabling utilities to develop clean heating/cooling infrastructure to reduce emissions and advance climate goals.95% confidence

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 2005: Providing for enforcement actions for property damage of electric vehicle charging stations.

HB 2005 makes it a crime to intentionally damage or steal electric vehicle (EV) charging stations or related infrastructure, with penalties increasing based on the damage value: a gross misdemeanor for under $1,000, a class C felony for $1,000-$5,000, and a class B felony for over $5,000. It requires offenders to pay restitution to station owners, allows victims to sue for up to $5,000 in damages plus legal fees, and directs additional fines to transportation funds. The law excludes accidental damage by utility workers and defines "electric vehicle charging station" to include related equipment and remote management systems. This bill directly affects vandals/thieves targeting EV infrastructure and protects station owners/operators.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill creates new criminal offenses with escalating penalties for property damage, expanding criminalization rather than reforming justice system.85% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyProtects EV charging infrastructure, a key renewable energy component, by imposing penalties for damage and requiring restitution to support adoption.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationProtects EV infrastructure, directs fines to transportation funds, and supports sustainable transportation development through enhanced enforcement and funding allocation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Victims' Rights Electric Vehicles Electric Vehicles

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in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1249: Creating the commercial liftoff for energy from advanced nuclear advisory commission.

HB 1249 proposes creating a 13-member advisory commission to support Washington's nuclear energy development. The commission, composed of representatives from universities, national labs, tribal governments, industry groups, and state agencies, will develop a roadmap for building new nuclear facilities and submit annual recommendations to the governor and legislature by October 1 each even year. It aims to address workforce needs and coordinate efforts to advance nuclear energy as part of the state's goal to provide all retail electricity from nonemitting sources by 2045. The bill does not fund projects or change regulations but establishes a structured process for gathering input and planning.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyCreates advisory commission to develop roadmap for new nuclear facilities, advancing nuclear energy development as part of clean energy infrastructure.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Nuclear

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signed · Washington · House Apr 1, 2026

HB 1960: Encouraging renewable energy in Washington through tax policy and investment in local communities.

HB 1960 aims to encourage renewable energy development in Washington by changing the tax structure for large-scale solar and wind energy facilities. The bill exempts personal property used for renewable energy generation and storage in qualified facilities from property taxation. In its place, it establishes a new annual excise tax on these facilities, with rates varying based on the energy type, operational date, and capacity of the generation and storage systems. This new tax directly affects operators of significant solar and wind energy projects and their associated storage systems across the state.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill changes tax structure by exempting renewable facilities from property tax and imposing a new excise tax to incentivize development, directly altering tax policy for fiscal management.90% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyExempts renewable energy property from taxes and creates targeted excise tax to incentivize development, directly promoting renewable energy infrastructure and investment.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill explicitly promotes renewable energy development through tax incentives for solar/wind facilities, directly advancing clean energy adoption and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Sales Tax Renewable Energy Solar Wind

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1847: Prioritizing the development of distributed alternative energy resources in targeted circumstances.

HB 1847 prioritizes smaller renewable energy projects on existing developed lands and infrastructure to support Washington's clean energy goals while protecting agricultural and natural resources. It specifically incentivizes solar and wind installations on locations like capped landfills, roadsides, irrigation canals, parking lots, and agricultural lands through "agrivoltaic" systems that maintain farming viability. The bill defines eligible projects and requires state agencies to facilitate development on designated sites, including ensuring solar arrays don't permanently convert farmland or degrade soil productivity. Key provisions include strict rules for agrivoltaic facilities to continue producing crops or ecosystem services and prioritizing energy storage on existing infrastructure. This bill directly affects developers, landowners, and agricultural operations seeking to integrate renewable energy without disrupting current land uses.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill explicitly prioritizes renewable projects (solar/wind) on existing infrastructure via incentives, defines eligible projects, and advances clean energy goals per summary.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentPromotes clean energy via agrivoltaics on existing lands, protecting resources while advancing climate goals per bill's summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Energy Storage Renewable Energy Solar

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in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5261: Issuing water right permits for nonconsumptive hydropower use in water resource inventory areas in which minimum instream flows are not being met.

SB 5261 allows Washington's Department of Ecology to issue water permits for nonconsumptive hydropower projects (which don't consume water) in water resource inventory areas where minimum instream flows aren't currently met. Permits must include measures to protect fish and wildlife flows or require mitigation for any flow impacts. The bill clarifies that only the Department of Ecology can establish minimum flow requirements and mandates consultation with wildlife agencies and tribal representatives during flow planning. It directly affects hydropower operators seeking permits in designated areas with insufficient water flow.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyEnables renewable hydropower permits with environmental safeguards, advancing clean energy infrastructure development in nonconsumptive projects.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires fish/wildlife flow protections and mitigation for hydropower permits in low-flow areas, strengthening environmental safeguards per bill language.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hydroelectric Wildlife

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