Despite defeating a carbon tax at the ballot box last fall, the legislature is considering several new versions this session, some of which could be larger than the one defeated last year.

We’ve updated our carbon tax calculator to help you find out how much these proposals will cost your family.

The first proposal, SB 5971, would impose a carbon tax of $15/metric ton of CO2 on gasoline, $10/metric ton on electricity and home heating, and add a six-cent-per-gallon gas tax. The tax is structured this way because gas taxes are protected by the 18^th Amendment of the state constitution and can be used “exclusively for highway purposes.” Carbon taxes, however, would go into the general fund and could be used for anything the legislature chooses.

To calculate what this tax would cost you, you need three pieces of information:

• The number of gallons of gas you use monthly or annually
• The therms of natural gas you use to heat your home (found on your bill)
• The number of kilowatt hours (kWh) you use annually (also found on your bill)

If you don’t have any of these numbers, the calculator will provide an estimate using statewide averages. Be careful about using monthly averages for natural gas or electricity, as your use can vary widely depending on the time of year.

Additionally, because each utility uses a different mix of energy sources, you can choose from three utilities:

• Avista
• Puget Sound Energy
• Washington state average

These will provide an approximation of your household costs. Any estimate is going to have a margin of error, but this should give you a reliable number within a dollar or two a month.

Share your e-mail address with us and we will update you as new carbon tax proposals are introduced.

Calculate Your Carbon Tax