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Committee hears broad support for green fertilizer incentive bill, WSDA to write rules
Summary
Senate Bill 5971 would direct WSDA to create a green fertilizer incentive program for low-carbon nitrogen fertilizer production and use; industry, labor and environmental groups testified in favor, citing climate benefits, jobs and federal tax-credit timing; WSDA said rulemaking costs exist and the program is subject to appropriations.
The Washington State Senate Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee held a public hearing on Senate Bill 59 71, which would require the Washington State Department of Agriculture to establish a green fertilizer incentive program to support in‑state production and agricultural use of low‑carbon nitrogen fertilizer.
Committee staff described the bill's central features: the bill defines "green fertilizer" as nitrogen-based fertilizer produced using manufacturing processes that yield at least an 80% reduction in life‑cycle greenhouse‑gas emissions compared with conventional natural‑gas‑based production; it directs WSDA to design the incentive consistent with recommendations from the department's 2024 green fertilizer report, adopt rules by July 2028, and submit a preliminary report to the legislature and governor by December 2027. Staff also reported a fiscal note of roughly $140,701 in the current biennium and about $154,687 in 2027–29.
Sponsor Senator Matt Behnke described SB 5971 as an effort to spur innovation, reduce greenhouse gases and build regional manufacturing hubs in Eastern Washington. "We're building out a concept that this could be a hub-and-spoke area," Behnke said, later adding the bill is intended to set up the program framework while funding decisions would come before future legislatures.
Industry and stakeholder testimony on the bill was broadly favorable. Dan Holmes of Atlas Agro described the Pacific Green Fertilizer Project in Richland and said producing fertilizer with green hydrogen could abate significant emissions while stabilizing supply and prices for farmers; he said such projects also seek to qualify for expiring federal tax incentives. The Tri City Development Council, Port of Benton, labor representatives and agriculture organizations all urged committee support, citing job growth, supply-chain resilience and environmental benefits. NRDC's hydrogen-policy advocate emphasized that electrolytic hydrogen production paired with renewables can enable substantial emissions reductions and that timing matters to take advantage of federal 45V tax credits.
WSDA testified that it convened a robust green-fertilizer work group in 2024 and that the bill includes elements from its report, but noted the program design and rulemaking will carry costs and that the program is subject to appropriations.
What happens next: The public hearing record is complete. WSDA and stakeholders signaled willingness to work on rule details and funding options; any appropriations or amendments would be decided later in the legislative process.
