Forty-three state lawmakers signed a letter urging the Department of Ecology to revise regulations that gave Washington the highest gas prices in the nation.
Senator Chris Gildon authored the letter that outlines steps the agency can take to provide immediate relief, without waiting for the Legislature to pass a bill.
The Puyallup Republican’s letter attributes Washington’s gas-price shock to the Department of Ecology’s implementation of cap-and-trade legislation passed by Democratic lawmakers in 2021.
Under cap and trade, industries that emit carbon are required to purchase “allowances” at auction that are estimated to be about 45 cents a gallon.
That cost is passed on to consumers.
