Washington carbon mandates add 55 cents per gallon to fuel prices, state senator argues

Washington state senator Chris Gildon argues that state-level carbon policies, not federal actions or global conflicts, are the main driver of the state's high gasoline prices. He points to the Climate Commitment Act (CCA) and a custom fuel formulation requirement as adding roughly 55 cents per gallon, nearly matching the state gas tax. Gildon notes that on February 26, before the Iran conflict began, Washington's average gas price was already $1.37 above the national average at $4.35 per gallon. The senator criticizes Governor Bob Ferguson for deflecting blame to Washington D.C. and refusing to pause the CCA using emergency powers, as Indiana's governor did. Gildon argues the carbon mandates have raised billions without measurably reducing emissions or funding road maintenance. He calls for a special legislative session to pause both costly policies, citing lower prices in neighboring Oregon and Idaho as evidence that state choices matter. This opinion piece frames the debate over carbon pricing as a concrete cost-of-living issue for Washington residents. It raises questions about whether climate policy effectiveness should be measured by emissions reductions or by economic impacts on households.