Inslee defends energy credit program against claims of 'bribing' voters

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee is defending a statewide plan for qualifying households to receive a $200 energy rebate from their local utility funded by the Climate Commitment Act against accusations that it’s effectively a bribe to get voters to reject a November initiative that would repeal the CCA.

Under the state program, $150 million derived from CCA revenue will go toward providing $200 energy rebates in September to more than 675,000 low-income households throughout the state.

Speaking at a Monday press conference, Inslee said that there is “one reason and one reason only we’ve been able to do it – we have the Climate Commitment Act. That’s a big deal for families in this income bracket.”

Inslee also criticized Initiative 2117 that would repeal the CCA if voters approve it in November, calling it “massively defective,” "deceptive” and “dangerous.”

“It is massively defective because there is no guarantee…that it will reduce anybody’s energy prices, period," he said.

The true fiscal impact of the CCA on energy costs has proved contentious. Critics have called it a “hidden gas tax” for how the carbon auctions have led to increased gas prices, a claim Inslee’s office has disputed.

However, utilities such as Puget Sound Energy have acknowledged its effect on their energy costs when submitting requests to the state Utilities and Transportation Commission to not only increase their rates but allow customers to see how much of their bill was due to the CCA. The latter was not adopted by the commission and was opposed by the state Attorney General’s Office, which was acting as public counsel in the UTC’s process.

While the CCA is focused on carbon emission level reduction, Inslee has focused primarily on its ostensible health benefits via air pollution reduction.

He said these efforts will make it so that “our kids can focus on algebra instead of trying to focus on trying to breathe. This is a health issue that we’re involved in today.”