Thursday, October 1, 2026
Gov. Bob Ferguson is rejecting a lead Republican’s proposal to temporarily suspend Washington’s cap-and-trade program to decrease prices at the pump.
In the last three months, retail gasoline in Washington has increased by $1.63 a gallon on average, according to the data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. And on Monday, June 1, the average price for a gallon of regular here was $5.70, $1.38 more than the nationwide average, according to AAA.
State Sen. Chris Gildon, R-Puyallup, urged Ferguson in a May 20 letter to use his emergency declaration power as governor to temporarily suspend the Climate Commitment Act. The law requires companies to buy allowances from the state for their air pollution.
“The cost of gas already has been higher in Washington than all but one or two states for the past few years,” wrote Gildon, who is Senate Republicans’ lead on the operating budget.
He suggested pausing the law could reduce the wholesale price of gasoline by about 50 cents per gallon “immediately,” and that prices would begin to fall at the pump within a week.
Asked about Gildon’s letter, a spokesperson for Ferguson dismissed the idea.
“The high gas prices caused by President Trump’s war in Iran does not constitute an emergency that allows the governor to exercise his extraordinary emergency powers,” said Brionna Aho, Communications Director for the Office of the Governor.
“While the governor appreciates Sen. Gildon’s extremely broad interpretation of the governor’s authority, a more constructive way to address the dramatic recent increase in gas prices would be to contact the man responsible for that increase: President Trump,” Aho added.
She also pointed to another analysis from 2024, indicating that Gildon overstated the potential savings.
It’s not the first time the idea has come up in recent months. U.S. Rep. Michael Baumgartner, R-Wash., called on Ferguson and Democratic legislative leaders in March to suspend the Climate Commitment Act to help curb fuel prices.
When the federal Canadian government ended its fuel tax in April due to the war, prices immediately dropped by the exact amount you would expect, said Todd Myers, Vice President for Research at the Washington Policy Center.
Ferguson could use a similar approach by pausing cap-and-trade auctions for a quarter, Myers said.
In doing so, large corporations would potentially save millions. During the first quarter of this year, an auction generated nearly $183 million in revenue for the state.
The vast majority of state carbon taxes are passed along to consumers, Myers told the Standard. For retail gas, that’s about 52 cents per gallon, he added. Myers said his calculation is based on information from the Environmental Protection Agency and the California Legislative Analyst’s Office.
Revenue from the auctions has benefited the state by expanding access to clean energy and more transportation options, and by creating jobs, said Leah Missik, Legislative Director for Climate Solutions.
“Letting big polluters off the hook will make our lives harder,” Missik said. “We need to focus on boosting local clean energy.”
Since the war in Iran began, elected leaders in several states have considered gas tax holidays as a way to ease the strain of high fuel prices for consumers. The idea has failed to gain momentum here in Washington.
Courtesy of Washington State Standard
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Honestyandrealityguy
Sad that our elected officials tax us so high and then spends more than they have. May God help our grandchildren.
And they only want more taxes. People and businesses are now leaving at a record pace. Common sense please.
Wednesday, June 3 Report this
KarenM
I believe it is sensible to do what we can to prevent more damage from climate change. The cost of drought, floods, fires, crop losses, etc. is going to make us so much worse off if we don't turn the tide on emissions.
Meanwhile, funding from the Climate Commitment Act is helping people reduce their energy costs and cleaning up our air.
Thursday, June 4 Report this
Snevets
“While the governor appreciates Sen. Gildon’s extremely broad interpretation of the governor’s authority, a more constructive way to address the dramatic recent increase in gas prices would be to contact the man responsible for that increase: President Trump,” Aho added.
An unwanted war by the American people is now causing unwanted pain not only for the folks that voted the fool in but for those that did not... Thanks Donald Trump.
Thursday, June 4 Report this
PatMer
Why did this article not include the very recently uncovered and huge blunder with terribly wrong cost estimates of our State's cap and trade program? The cap and trade program is costing us Washingtonians much more than the State initially promised. So it's very apropos for the State to temporarily suspend that tax. Here's a brief summary of the fiasco:
Washington state officials admitted Jan. 6 they overstated by more than 80% how much projects funded by cap-and-trade taxes have reduced greenhouse gases.
The Department of Commerce blamed data entry errors for inflating the benefits of eight grants that helped low- and moderate income households buy energy-efficient electric appliances.
The state reported in November the eight grants will cut emissions by 7.5 million metric tons and accounted for 86% of all reductions over two years. The actual reduction was only 78,000 tons, according to Commerce.
Thursday, June 4 Report this
ClimateTeam
Ironic that the Republicans want to lower our taxes that pay for essential services because their hero started a stupid war that we can't get out of. It's their war that is the cause of these gas price increases in the first place. The dictator in charge is also doing everything he can to increase global warming and harm our health and our planet.
Thankfully Washingtonians voted FOR the CCA and against the mandates of this terrible regime in the other Washington.
Thursday, June 4 Report this
Southsoundguy
Climate change is a scam.
Thursday, June 4 Report this
HotTractor
Ha, like the oil companies would pass on the difference. How about not starting war with Iran?
Thursday, June 4 Report this