For a long time, if you wanted to know what the future looked like for Washington’s climate policies, you just had to look at California.  

The Golden State put a carbon auction in place in 2012. 10 years later, state lawmakers here set up our own cap and trade system.

California passed legally binding emissions goals in 2006. Washington did that about a decade later.

And let’s talk car sales: California passed a law that will ban the sale of most gasoline powered vehicles by 2035. Washington passed a similar law a few years ago.

But now, California’s law has come under the crosshairs of the federal government and that may hamper both states’ ability to meet ambitious goals to decarbonize.

Guest:

Conrad Swanson, climate reporter for the Seattle Times

Related Links: 

Seattle Times: Did Congress just revoke WA’s gas car ban? 

Stateline: Major legal brawl may decide what types of cars Americans can buy

Cal Matters: US Senate blocks California’s electric car mandate in historic vote 

 

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

For a long time, if you wanted to know what the future looked like for Washington&rsquo;s climate policies, you just had to look at California.&nbsp;&nbsp;
The Golden State put a carbon auction in place in 2012. 10 years later, state lawmakers here set up our own cap and trade system.
California passed legally binding emissions goals in 2006. Washington did that about a decade later.
And let&rsquo;s talk car sales: California passed a law that will ban the sale of most gasoline powered vehicles by 2035. Washington passed a similar law a few years ago.
But now, California&rsquo;s law has come under the crosshairs of the federal government and that may hamper both states&rsquo; ability to meet ambitious goals to decarbonize.
Guest:
Conrad Swanson, climate reporter for the Seattle Times
Related Links:&nbsp;
Seattle Times:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/climate-lab/did-congress-just-revoke-was-gas-car-ban/">Did Congress just revoke WA&rsquo;s gas car ban?&nbsp;</a>
Stateline: <a href="https://stateline.org/2025/01/08/major-legal-brawl-may-decide-what-types-of-cars-americans-can-buy/">Major legal brawl may decide what types of cars Americans can buy</a>
Cal Matters: <a href="https://calmatters.org/environment/2025/05/california-electric-car-mandate-senate-revoke-waiver/">US Senate blocks California&rsquo;s electric car mandate in historic vote&nbsp;</a>
&nbsp;
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to <a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Soundside

California’s climate law have come under the crosshairs of the federal government and that may hamper Washington's ability to meet ambitious goals to decarbonize.

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