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City staff brief council on Climate Commitment Act, possible six‑figure to million‑dollar compliance costs
Summary
City Administrator Chris Searcy briefed the council on the Washington Climate Commitment Act, saying the municipal gas utility is marginally over the 25,000 metric‑ton threshold that triggers coverage; staff estimated first‑year compliance costs around $250,000 rising in later years and described options including reducing load, pursuing alternative compliance approaches with Ellensburg, or legislative remedies.
Uniontown — City Administrator Chris Searcy gave a detailed workshop to council on the Washington Climate Commitment Act (CCA), explaining how the cap‑and‑invest program applies to covered entities and what it means for Uniontown’s municipal natural‑gas utility.
Searcy summarized the program’s mechanics (annual carbon allowances, quarterly auctions, and the state’s phased reduction of no‑cost allowances). He said the city’s average emissions for 2023–2025 were “a little over 25,000 metric tons,” placing the utility just over the statutory threshold for coverage. "We are just marginally over the threshold of being pulled into the program," Searcy said.
Staff explained how the city…
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