Electric Vehicles

A driver of a semi truck turns the steering wheel to the right. Downtown Seattle is just outside the windsheild.

Short-haul truckers call for equitable distribution of Washington’s climate dollars

Bellamy Pailthorp

Short-haul truck drivers are calling for an equitable share of Washington state's climate funding to help them transition from diesel to electric engines. Advocates say it would make a big dent in pollution and improve people's health.

This electric commuter van provided by MTR Western has zero emissions. Michael Mann of Clean and Prosperous Washington borrowed it on the day of the first auction of permits under the Climate Commitment Act, to show people what could be possible with the new revenue generated. A broad coalition wants to prioritize the electrification of heavy and mid-size vehicles, to reach the state's carbon-reduction goals more quickly.

Environment

First auction held for ‘licenses to pollute’ in Washington

Bellamy Pailthorp

A big list of carbon polluters in Washington is now subject to a cap and trade regulation system under the state’s Climate Commitment Act. The first auction was held Tuesday for permits to emit greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere.

Portland Fire & Rescue would be the second department nationally to take delivery of an electric fire engine built by Pierce Manufacturing. This is the first one in service with the Madison Fire Department in Wisconsin.

Transportation

Portland will take delivery of the region's first electric fire truck

Tom Banse

You probably no longer bat an eye when an electric car passes by on the road. More novel battery-powered vehicles are soon joining the parade to help operators achieve their sustainability goals. Now, several Pacific Northwest fire departments have ordered their first electric fire trucks.

Cobalt is an important component of lithium ion batteries, like those in many electric vehicles

Science

Oregon State University plans to develop a battery that would not rely on rare minerals

Monica Samayoa

A research team led by Oregon State University hopes to develop new rechargeable battery technology that could reduce the need for mining lithium and nickel for electric vehicles.

FILE - Vice President Kamala Harris, right, laughs with Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan, during a tour of electric school buses at Meridian High School in Falls Church, Va., May 20, 2022. Nearly 400 school districts spanning all 50 states are receiving grants totaling nearly $1 billion to purchase nearly 2,500 "clean" school buses under a new federal program. The Biden administration is making the grants available as part of a wider effort to accelerate the transition to zero emission vehicles and reduce air pollution near schools and communities.

Politics

VP Harris spotlights 'clean' school bus grants in Seattle

Bellamy Pailthorp

Vice President Kamala Harris visited Seattle on Wednesday to highlight Biden-administration programs to provide cleaner and greener infrastructure for public schools. A centerpiece of that is a $5 billion dollar, five year plan focused on school buses.

An electric vehicle is plugged into a charger in Los Angeles, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2022. California plans to require all new cars, trucks and SUVs to run on electricity or hydrogen by 2035 under a policy approved Thursday by regulators that seeks a dramatic cut in carbon emissions and an eventual end to gasoline-powered vehicles.

Environment

Washington to follow California in phasing out gas vehicles

The Associated Press

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee says his state will follow California and prohibit the sale of new gas-powered vehicles by 2035. California’s policy requires 100% of new sales of passenger cars, trucks and SUVs to be powered by electricity or hydrogen by 2035, with one-fifth allowed to be plug-in hybrids.

A United States Postal Service employee works outside a post office in Wheeling, Ill., Dec. 3, 2021. Four environmental groups that want the U.S. Postal Service to buy more electric delivery vehicles are suing to halt further purchases. The lawsuit, filed Thursday, April 28, 2022, in federal court in California, asks a judge to order the Postal Service to conduct a more thorough environmental review before moving forward with the next-generation vehicle program.

Law

16 states that want to electrify USPS fleet file lawsuits

The Associated Press

California, Washington and 14 other states that want the U.S. Postal Service to buy electric-powered delivery vehicles are suing to halt purchases of thousands of gas-powered trucks. Three lawsuits, filed Thursday in New York and California by the states and environmental groups, demand that the Postal Service conduct a more thorough environmental review before moving forward with the next-generation vehicle program.

Transportation

Washington governor signs $17 billion transportation package

The Associated Press

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has signed a nearly $17 billion, 16-year transportation revenue package that will pay for a variety of projects across the state, including building four new hybrid electric ferries.

A Washington state ferry sails on Elliott Bay near West Seattle. A hillside of trees and homes is in the background.

Transportation

State's first hybrid-electric ferry gets its name

The Associated Press

The next Washington state ferry will bear the name Wishkah when it sails in 2024. The Washington State Transportation Commission voted 7-0 Tuesday to select the name after receiving citizen suggestions for months.

Governor Jay Inslee wears a navy blue suit and a black face mask as he speaks from a lectern with the State of Washington seal on it.

Government

Inslee unveils climate proposals ahead of budget plan

Rachel La Corte

Gov. Jay Inslee announced on Monday several climate-related proposals for the next legislative session, including a plan to offer rebates for new and used electric vehicles, on top of the sales tax exemption that currently exists for such vehicles in the state.