The end of vehicle emissions testing in Washington’s largest counties provides an opportunity to examine efforts to reduce carbon emissions.
After more than 38 years, the state Department of Ecology has closed testing facilities and ended a requirement that vehicles be tested before registration can be renewed. Aside from the employees at those facilities, it is unlikely that many people will miss the regular requirement, which costs time and money.
“When we began the emission check program back in 1982, air pollution from carbon monoxide and ozone was a serious concern in many of our biggest cities,” Kathy Taylor, manager of Ecology’s air quality program, said in a news release. “Today, new cars are much, much cleaner than in decades past, which means we can continue to improve our state’s air quality without these regular tests.”
Increased emission standards have exempted newer vehicles from testing, leading to the end of the requirement. But that does not mitigate the state’s need to further reduce emissions that play a key role in climate change.
Washington has worked on many fronts to reduce emissions. In addition to echoing California’s stringent vehicle standards, lawmakers have moved to reduce emissions from energy production. The 2006 Energy Independence Act requires that 15 percent of energy come from renewable resources by this year; in 2019, Gov. Jay Inslee signed a law requiring all electricity in the state to come from nonemitting sources — such as hydro, nuclear, wind and solar — by 2045.
The inclusion of hydropower is important. Washington is the nation’s leading hydropower state, but that source of energy was inexplicably not considered renewable under the 2006 law.
Efforts by state government, private industry and residents to curb emissions have had positive effects. In 2017, according to the Department of Ecology, statewide carbon emissions saw a slight decline from the previous year — despite a robust economy and growing population.
“What we’re seeing is that our state’s carbon reduction strategies are beginning to pay off,” said Maia Bellon, the department’s former director. “Even with the best economy in the nation, Washington was able to hold the line on emissions, but we need to do more and do it faster.”
Washington is demonstrating that a state can directly confront climate change without hampering its economy. The potential of the wind and solar energy industries should be viewed as an opportunity for growth rather than a threat. Data show that there is a correlation between states with the fastest growing economies and low per-capita carbon emissions.
Of course, Washington is blessed with abundant hydropower, which is cleaner than most energy sources and is not abundant in many states. In addition, the region’s economy is powered in part by relatively low-emission industries such as high tech. But despite those advantages, the state should serve as a template for Congress to adopt national policies that reduce carbon emissions while still bolstering the economy.
Reducing vehicle emissions is one part of that, and the Trump administration’s effort to fight California’s stronger restrictions is a move in the wrong direction. Instead, the federal government must embrace sound emission policies while fighting climate change as much as possible.
The end of vehicle emissions testing in Washington is an example of the long-term impact of foresight and sound policy. The federal government should take note.
