Governor’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard Legislation Garners Low Enthusiasm from Local Legislator

Governor Jay Inslee's Low Carbon Fuel Standard legislation, House Bill 1091, moved to the Appropriations Committee recently. The bill passed out of the committee to move to the House floor.

12th District Representative Mike Steele serves on the committee and weighed in on the legislation intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by reducing the carbon intensity of transportation.

"We have to be cognizant, as legislators, of our lower income families and families that struggle just to make it into work," said Rep. Steele. "This low carbon fuel standard does drive up the cost of fuel."

According to Rep. Steele, citizens within the 12th District provided testimony against the bill.

"The testimony from our district was these fuels really gum up machinery, they are hard to use, they really hurt the life cycle of a machine," said Rep. Steele. "Carbonators are gummed up and they struggle to use them in smaller machinery, like four wheelers on farming operations."

The bill has made it to the House floor and failed several times in the past.

"My struggle is those folks that have to commute from a distance, that aren't living in a populated area because it's too expensive, how do we make sure they are treated fairly?" said Steele.

To read more about the bill, visit here.