SEATTLE - It is 2026 and the Washington State Department of Ecology continues to refuse to release statewide CO2 data beyond 2021. The Department admits they have the data to provide updated information. They also admitted last year that they are in violation of state law, arguing only they won’t allocate the resources to comply.
That’s why on Wednesday, January 14th, Washington Policy Center, in conjunction with the Citizen Action Defense Fund, filed a motion for summary judgment in our lawsuit to force the Department of Ecology to produce the climate data the law requires.
This is a pattern of failure with the Department of Ecology. In addition to their failure to provide the required CO2 data:
Their recent report on the impact of CCA-funded projects was badly flawed
Ecology’s claims about the impact of the CO2 tax on gas prices were so flawed, agency staff removed them from the web page
In December, the price of CO2 allowances in state auctions exceeded Ecology’s highest estimated cost for 2029 from their report released just one year ago
Citizens should not have to sue the state to follow a law a state agency admits they aren't following.
