A YES vote on Initiative 2117 would finally put a stop to the state money-grab masquerading as a green initiative known as the “Climate Commitment Act.” Its approach might be intended to fund climate solutions, but right now, Washington’s Climate Commitment Act (CCA) is doing little more than sucking money from the pockets of consumers and farmers alike, under the guise of environmental progress.
The CCA, pitched as the latest climate hero, has actually saddled Washingtonians with a $2.2 billion bill over the past year alone. In a nutshell? Carbon-spewing industries are getting hit with sky-high fees, which they conveniently pass onto consumers—many of whom can’t afford to make “eco-friendly” switches. Sure, the state likes to frame this as a bold environmental move, but it’s starting to look more like a cash cow for lawmakers, and regular Washingtonians are the ones being milked.
For countless families, this Act has led to painful price hikes at the gas pump, soaring utility bills, and sticker shock on basic goods. And in the end, it misses the mark on targeting the real environmental offenders. Instead, it heaps costs onto those who often can least afford them.
And agriculture? It’s far from getting a free pass in this cash grab. When this act was first crafted, lawmakers threw a bone to farmers, exempting farm fuels from the carbon fees. But apparently, the Department of Ecology didn’t get the memo. Despite the law, they’ve been happily charging farms those same high carbon prices for on-farm fuel, blatantly ignoring the exemption. And here’s the kicker: this “oversight” has racked up a tab in the hundreds of millions for Washington’s farming community.
What’s all that extra cash doing? It’s certainly not helping farmers, who are already stretched thin with rising costs and razor-thin profit margins. Now, farmers have to adjust their margins further with inflated fuel prices for their trucks, tractors, and everything else that keeps our food supply going. Meanwhile, many Washington lawmakers and agencies just keep cashing in, shrugging off their legal obligation to honor the farm-fuel exemption.
Let’s cut through the charade. A YES on Initiative 2117 is a vote to protect Washington’s food supply, uphold the law, and bring much-needed common sense back to the table. We urgently need climate solutions that promote a sustainable environment without unlawfully crushing the very people who grow our food and the consumers who depend on them. Voting YES on Initiative 2117 gives Washington voters the chance to push for a fair, balanced approach that supports both a healthier planet and the resilience of our state’s food producers.