The environmental group Climate Solutions is urging Gov. Jay Inslee to exercise his executive power to adopt a clean fuels standard.
The group's leaders spoke to reporters on Thursday in hopes of adding momentum to their efforts to follow in the footsteps of California and British Columbia.
Carrie Nyssen with the American Lung Association says cars and trucks are the largest source of air pollution in Washington state.
“Infants, children, the elderly and people with lung disease, those with cardiovascular disease and diabetes are especially vulnerable to polluted air. Air pollution can affect fetal development" Nyssen said. "So given the large proportion of air pollution caused by transportation, it makes sense that we make this switch to cleaner fuels.”
If adopted, a clean fuels standard would encourage more use of biofuels and other alternatives that have lower carbon emissions than petroleum-based gas.
Oil companies have commissioned studies claiming that it could make prices of fossil-based fuels go up dramatically. Climate Solutions says this is not true. In California, prices have remained stable.
