Washington's Carbon Market Linkage Is a Win for Workers and the Climate
Washington Department of Ecology Director Casey Sixkiller, alongside Governor Ferguson, signed an historic agreement connecting Washington's carbon market with California and Québec, and the ripple effects for working families are significant.
What Linkage Means for Washington Workers
Washington's Climate Commitment Act (CCA) was already delivering results. A recent report projects the CCA is on track to generate more than $9.1 billion in economic output and create more than 45,000 jobs over eight years. Linking our carbon market with California and Québec should accelerate that momentum.
A broader, more stable carbon market means more auction revenue. That revenue directly funds workforce development and training programs that flow into apprenticeships and career pathways for union members across Washington state.
These aren't abstract concepts. These dollars create real opportunities for electricians, pipefitters, concrete masons, sheet metal workers, and countless others to build careers in industries that are growing.
Today's signing is a major milestone, but our work isn't finished. Washington must act boldly on several fronts to fully realize this economic potential:
Streamline permitting and siting to remove barriers to clean energy development
Create certainty for developers so investment flows quickly and consistently
Accelerate community-level energy resource development so the benefits reach every corner of the state
A stronger carbon market sets the foundation for us to continue to achieve these critical goals.
Union workers built Washington state and good-paying, family-wage jobs in the clean energy economy shouldn’t be a distant promise. Our workers are waiting to build this new infrastructure and be the engine of new economic prosperity across the state.
