Initiative 2117

November 5, 2024
This measure would prohibit state agencies from imposing any type of carbon tax credit trading, and repeal legislation establishing a cap and invest program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Website	Washington Secretary of State
Results
Choice Votes % ✔ Yes 1,437,103 38.05% ✖ No 2,340,077 61.95% Valid votes 3,777,180 100.00% Invalid or blank votes 0 0.00% Total votes 3,777,180 100.00%
County results Congressional district results Precinct results Yes   90–100%   80–90%   70–80%   60–70%   50–60% No   90–100%   80–90%   70–80%   60–70%   50–60% Other   Tie   No votes

Initiative No. 2117 (I-2117) is a failedballot initiative in theU.S. State ofWashington that appeared on the ballot on November 5, 2024. The initiative was brought to thestate legislature by Let's Go Washington, aRedmond-basedpolitical action committee founded by Brian Heywood.^[1] The initiative sought to repeal theWashington Climate Commitment Act (CCA), acap and trade program adopted by the state in 2021 to begin pricing carbon emissions in order to create a downward pressure on state carbon emissions.^[2][3]

The effort to repeal the CCA through initiative was one of six ballot efforts spearheaded by Let's Go Washington in 2023.^[1] I-2117 collected a total of 466,072 signatures on the way to certification and introduction to the state legislature during their 2024 legislative session.^[4] I-2117 was one of three bills that Senate majority leader Andy Billig (D) and Speaker of the House Laurie Jenkins (D) announced on February 16, 2024, that the state legislature would not hold hearings on.^[5] This decision not to take action on the referred initiative placed the decision on the question to the November 2024 general election.

The establishment of a carbon tax has been a priority for Washington stateDemocrats since at least 2009, when HB1819 and SB 5735 were proposed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through a cap and trade program.^[6] The effort to pass the bill failed to pass in either the 2009 or 2010 session, ultimately dying during the 2010 special session. Subsequent efforts to establish a carbon market involved the initiative process with the introduction ofInitiative 732 in 2016 andInitiative 1631 in 2018, both of which failed to pass by a vote of the people. Supporters of establishing a carbon market finally found success in 2021 with the passage of theClimate Commitment Act (CCA) in 2021.^[7] The goal of the CCA is to reduce Washington state carbon tonet zero by 2050 by establishing gradually declining caps on the amount of carbon businesses are permitted to release and requiring them to purchase allowances on a state-run market managed by theDepartment of Ecology for exceeding permitted carbon emission levels.^[7]

One of the main concerns around the passage of the CCA was the impact the climate legislation could have on the price of gas in the state. The particular impact on agricultural production was addressed in the legislation itself by establishing a five-year exemption for agricultural vehicles in particular.^[8] State officials in charge with implementing CCA also sought to reassure the public that the impact on gas prices would be negligible as they worked to bring the law into force in 2022.^[9] However, following implementation of the CCA on January 1, 2023, the state saw a rise in gas prices above what had been expected absent the CCA. As of July 1, 2023, the state of Washington had an average gas price of $4.95/gallon, which was $1.43/gallon higher than the national average for that day in 2023 and $0.81/gallon more above the national average than Washington had been in 2022.^[10] A former economist for the state of Washington had anticipated a surge in gas prices related to the CCA implementation and noted so in his reports, an act for which he claims to have later been fired.^[11]

The rise in gas prices tied to the CCA spurred efforts became the primary argument against the CCA adopted by conservative opponents adopted when making a push to repeal the CCA throughinitiative.^[12] The initiative repeal effort was led by Let's Go Washington, a PAC founded by thelibertarian-leaninghedge fund manager Brian Heywood to circumvent the Democratic-dominated state legislature and attempt to repeal six laws that he and other conservatives found objectionable.^[12] Signatures for the repeal effort were certified in December, with the state legislature declining to take action on the proposals in February.^[13][14] This decision by legislative leaders put I-2117 on track for public consideration on the November 2024 general election ballot.

I-2117 places the following question before the citizens of Washington:

Initiative Measure No. 2117 concerns carbon tax credit trading.

This measure would prohibit state agencies from imposing any type of carbon tax credit trading, and repeal legislation establishing a cap and invest program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Should this measure be enacted into law? Yes [ ] No [ ]

The CCA raised approximately $1.8 billion through its quarterly auction of carbon credits during its first full year of implementation in 2023.^[15] The revenues raised by carbon credit auctions are required by law to focus on three priority areas above the costs of administering the program itself (which is capped at 5% of revenues): reducing transportation-related carbon emissions, increasing community andecological resilience, and reducing health disparities across economic and racial lines related to air pollution and other environmental contaminants.^[16] The largest immediate impact of the CCA's repeal on the state expenditure side of the ledger would be cuts to public transit and state transportation spending.^[15]

As of September 24, 2024, Let's Go Washington and the Taxpayers Accountability Alliance are registered as sponsors of the initiative.^[17] During a debate held on September 10, 2024, Republican gubernatorial candidateDave Reichert reaffirmed his support of I-2117.^[18]Jaime Herrera Beutler, the Republican candidate forCommissioner of Public Lands, also opposed the initiative.^[19]

As of September 24, 2024, the 45th district Democratic Party, the Clean and Prosperous America No on 2117 Committee, Defend Washington, Fuse Voters, the Green Jobs PAC, the No on 2117 PAC, Protect Washington, the SEIU 775 Ballot Fund, and the Stop Greed PAC are registered as opponents of the initiative.^[17] During a debate held on September 10, 2024, Democratic gubernatorial candidateBob Ferguson reaffirmed his opposition to I-2117.^[18]

Initiative 2117 failed with only 38% support.^[25]

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• Initiatives in the United States
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