Senator Brad Hawkins prefiled a bill for the 2021 legislative session, Senate Bill 5000, Monday to establish a pilot project for a reduction of sales tax on hydrogen powered vehicle purchases.

Washington state currently has provisions in place that provide sales tax incentives for plug in electric vehicle purchasers.

"This bill would extend the same type of sales tax incentives to hydrogen powered vehicles as what the state provides traditional plug in electric vehicles," said Senator Hawkins.

The first hydrogen fueling stations in Washington state are expected to be operational by 2022. The bill would allow 650 vehicles to receive a 50% sales tax exemption in fiscal years 2023 through 2029.

"One of the things that's really important to me with this legislation is that I believe our state should be technology neutral in terms of the incentives we provide in public policy," said Senator Hawkins.

The bill so far has commitments of bipartisan support from nearly 20 co-sponsors.

Hawkins sponsored and passed SB 5588 in 2019, authorizing PUDs to produce renewable hydrogen. Douglas PUD plans to produce hydrogen in Douglas County using surplus electricity produced from Wells Dam.

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