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City administrator outlines Climate Commitment Act impacts for municipal gas utility; council hears potential costs and options
Summary
City Administrator Chris Searcy presented a detailed Climate Commitment Act briefing for Enumclaw's municipal gas utility, warning the city is "just marginally over" the 25,000-ton threshold and outlining compliance mechanics, bill impacts, and possible policy options including cost recovery and legislative coordination. Council asked for financial projections and agreed to revisit the topic in May.
City Administrator Chris Searcy briefed the Uniontown City Council on March 9 about Washington State's Climate Commitment Act and how it affects the city's municipal natural gas utility. He said the city is "just marginally over the threshold" that defines a covered entity and described allowance auctions, no‑cost allowances, and customer billing mechanisms.
Searcy framed the CCA as a cap‑and‑invest program designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and explained that covered entities must secure annual carbon allowances equal to their emissions. "It is law. We must follow it," he said, noting Ecology’s rule‑making and the program’s intent to shrink available allowances over time.
Why it matters: Searcy said the city…
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