Expired, Repealed, and Archived Washington Incentives and Laws
The following is a list of expired, repealed, and archived incentives, laws, regulations, funding opportunities, or other initiatives related to alternative fuels and vehicles, advanced technologies, or air quality.
Electric Vehicle (EV) Rebate – Snohomish Public Utility District (PUD)
Archived: 01/01/2024
Snohomish PUD offers residential customers a $200 rebate, in the form of a bill credit, for the purchase or lease of a new or used EV. For more information, see the Snohomish PUD EV website.
Non-Residential Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) Grants - Pacific Power
Archived: 04/11/2022
Pacific Power offers non-residential customers quarterly grants for up to 100% of eligible purchase and installation costs of EVSE. Twenty-five percent of funds will be earmarked for workplace charging and fleet electrification projects. Additional requirements may apply. For more information, including application timelines, visit the Pacific Power Charging Station Grants website.
Plug-In Electric Vehicle (PEV) Charging Study Incentive - Tacoma Public Utility (TPU)
Archived: 04/11/2022
TPU is conducting a study to understand the charging patterns for residential PEVs. In exchange for completion of surveys about PEV charging and use, TPU customers may be eligible for an up to $250 incentive per year. Eligible residential customers must own or lease a PEV and own their own charging equipment. For more information, see the TPU EV Charging Study website.
Public Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) Incentive – Clark Public Utilities (CPU)
Archived: 04/11/2022
CPU offers limited grants to install publicly accessible EVSE in Clark County. Rebates of up to 50% of the project costs are available to municipalities, local government agencies, and non-profits in Clark County. For more information, see the CPU Electric Vehicle Program website.
Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) Car Share Pilot Program
Archived: 04/05/2022
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) will develop a pilot program to provide AFV use opportunities to underserved and low-income communities and to those without easy access to transportation corridors. (Reference Revised Code of Washington 47.04.355)
Support for Autonomous Vehicles (AVs)
Archived: 06/14/2021
The Office of the Governor established a work group to assess the state government's role in cultivating the safe development of AVs. The group will collaborate with industry representatives, stakeholders, and government representatives, to request updates on AV pilot programs and inform proposed changes to policies, rules, and statutes within the state. (Reference Executive Order 17-02, 2017)
Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) Rebate – Avista
Archived: 06/30/2019
Avista offers rebates to residential and workplace customers for the installation of a Level 2 EVSE of up to $1,000 and $2,000, respectively. Rebates are limited to the first 240 residential and 175 workplace customers that apply. For more information, including how to apply, see the Avista Electric Transportation website.
Electric Vehicle (EV) and Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) Low Income Opportunity Study
Archived: 06/30/2019
The Washington State Department of Commerce (WSDOC) conducted a study to identify opportunities to reduce barriers to EV and FCEV adoption by lower income residents through the use of vehicle and infrastructure financing assistance. The study included opportunities to work with nonprofit leaders to facilitate vehicle purchases through loan-loss reserves and rate buy downs by qualified borrowers purchasing EV and FCEVs that are eligible for tax exemptions, focus on potential borrowers who are at or below 80% of the state medium household income, and address opportunities to increase EV adoption by lower income residents of the state. WSDOC submitted a report detailing the findings of the study to the transportation committees. (Reference House Bill 2042, 2019)
Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) Study
Archived: 04/01/2019
The Washington Joint Transportation Committee (Committee), in coordination with the Washington Department of Transportation, local governments, and industry stakeholders, evaluated the current status of EVSE in Washington and made recommendations for potential business models for financially-sustainable EVSE deployment. For more information, including a copy of the interim and final report, see the Committee website.
Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) Tax Exemption
Expired: 06/01/2018
New passenger cars, light-duty trucks, and medium-duty passenger vehicles that are dedicated AFVs are exempt from state motor vehicle sales and use taxes. Qualified vehicles include vehicles capable of operating exclusively on natural gas, propane, hydrogen, or electricity, and plug-in electric vehicles that are capable of being charged by an external power source and can travel at least 30 miles using only electricity. Qualified vehicles must meet the California motor vehicle emissions standards, comply with the rules of the Washington Department of Ecology, and have a base model price of $42,500 or less. The sales tax exemption applies to up to $32,000 of a vehicle's selling price or the total amount of lease payments made. If the original lessee purchased the leased vehicle before the exemptions expire, the exemption applies the total lease payments made plus the selling price of the leased vehicle, up to $32,000.
As of April 2018, the maximum number of qualifying vehicles sold after June 15, 2015, 7,500, has been reached, and the sales tax exemption applies to vehicles delivered to their owners by May 31, 2018. A vehicle purchased or leased before June 1, 2018, is exempt from the use tax until it is retired or changes hands. For more information, see the Green Incentives section of Washington Department of Revenue's Incentives Programs website. (Reference Revised Code of Washington 82.08.809 and 82.12.809)
Biofuel Volume Rebate Program - Propel Fuels
Archived: 02/01/2018
Propel Fuels offers a rebate to qualified fleet customers for monthly purchases of more than 500 gallons of biodiesel blends and E85. Fleet customers must purchase the fuel directly from Propel public retail locations using the Propel CleanDrive WEX fleet card. The program offers a rebate of up to $0.05 per gallon for purchases of more than 500 gallons of biofuel per month. The rebate is applied at the end of each monthly billing cycle. For more information, see the Propel Fuels website.
Establishment of Idle Reduction Loan Program
Archived: 02/01/2018
The Washington Department of Ecology (Department) will establish a loan program for investments in diesel idle reduction technologies, including truck stop electrification, auxiliary power units, cab air heaters, battery-powered heating and air conditioning systems, automatic engine start-up and shutdown systems, and projects that augment or replace diesel engines or power systems with natural gas engines or systems. The Department will offer low or no interest loans state, local, or other governmental entities that own diesel vehicles or equipment. Only vehicles that spend at least one half of their time operating in Washington are eligible. The Department will evaluate projects based on human health, environmental, and greenhouse gas benefits. (Reference Revised Code of Washington 70.325.030)
Provision for Alternative Fuels Corridor Pilot Projects
Archived: 02/01/2018
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) may enter into partnership agreements with other public and private entities to use land for alternative fuel corridor pilot projects. In particular, WSDOT should continue to build out the electric vehicle charging network along state highways and at key destinations. Minimum requirements apply and these agreements are subject to funding availability. (Reference Executive Order 14-04, 2014, and Revised Code of Washington 47.38.070)
State Agency Coordination to Address Climate Change
Repealed: 01/16/2018
Washington state agencies are charged with a number of clean transportation initiatives to address climate change concerns, including:
- The Washington State Department of Transportation must work with federal, state, regional, and local partners to develop an action plan to advance electric vehicle use, including recommendations on targeted incentives for consumers and businesses, infrastructure funding mechanisms, signage, and building codes.
- The Washington Office of Financial Management must work with other state agencies, subject matter experts, affected industries, and the public to evaluate the technical feasibility, costs and benefits, and job implications of requiring the use of cleaner transportation fuels through a low carbon fuel standard.
- The Washington Departments of Transportation, Commerce, and Ecology must work with the regional transportation planning organizations, counties, and cities to develop a new program to provide financial and technical assistance for local governments to implement transportation efficiency improvement measures, and to update their comprehensive plans to maximize efficiency, reduce costs, and minimize greenhouse gas emissions.
Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) Rebate - PSE
Expired: 04/01/2017
Puget Sound Energy (PSE) provides a $500 rebate to qualified customers for the purchase and installation of Level 2 EVSE. Eligible applicants must be PSE residential electric schedule 7 customers, must be the registered owner of an EV, and must install a Level 2 EVSE within a specified timeframe. The rebate is available on a first come, first served basis to the first 5,000 qualified customers. PSE expects the rebate program to remain open until November 1, 2016, depending on available funds. For more information, including additional requirements, see PSE's Electric Vehicles website.
State Vehicle Purchasing Guidance
Archived: 02/01/2016
The Washington Department of Enterprise Services must develop guidelines and criteria for the purchase of high mileage gasoline vehicles as well as alternative fuel vehicles and systems that reduce the overall costs and energy use in the state. The guidance should include investigations into all opportunities to aggregate the purchasing of clean technologies with state and local governments, as well as federal fuel economy standards. (Reference Revised Code of Washington 39.26.090, 43.19.570 and 43.19.663)
Biofuels Production Tax Exemption
Expired: 12/31/2015
Qualifying buildings, equipment, and land used in the manufacturing of alcohol fuel, biodiesel, or biodiesel feedstocks, are exempt from state and local property and leasehold excise taxes for a period of six years from the date the facility or addition to the existing facility becomes operational. Applicants must submit their applications for this exemption by December 31, 2015. (Reference Revised Code of Washington 82.29A.135, 84.36.635 and 84.36.640)
Biofuels Distribution Tax Exemption
Expired: 07/01/2015
Fuel delivery vehicles, machinery, equipment, and related services that are used for the retail sale or distribution of blends of 20% biodiesel (B20) or greater or E85 motor fuel are exempt from state retail fuel sales and use taxes until July 1, 2015. Restrictions apply. (Reference Revised Code of Washington 82.08.955 and 82.12.955)
Biofuels Tax Deduction
Expired: 07/01/2015
A business and occupation tax deduction is available for the sale or distribution of biodiesel or E85 motor fuel. This deduction is available until July 1, 2015. (Reference Revised Code of Washington 82.04.4334)
Idle Reduction Tax Incentives and Exemptions
Expired: 07/01/2015
Tax incentives are available for the infrastructure and services that support the use of auxiliary power for vehicles with gross vehicle weight ratings of more than 14,000 pounds through on-board or stand-alone electrification systems. These incentives include a business and occupation tax deduction and a sales and tax exemption for machinery and equipment used to provide auxiliary power at truck stops. Sales and use tax exemptions are also available for any parts and labor necessary to enable heavy-duty diesel trucks to accept power for on-board electrification systems. These exemptions expire July 1, 2015. (Reference Revised Code of Washington 82.04.4338, 82.08.815, 82.08.825, 82.12.815, and 82.12.825)
Clean and Efficient Fleet Assistance
Archived: 05/01/2015
Western Washington Clean Cities and the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency administer the Evergreen Fleets program, a comprehensive greening plan and certification system for fleets. Evergreen Fleets provides fleet managers with tools to help "green" public and private fleets, reduce pollution, and save money. Evergreen Fleets provides a step-by-step guide to identify the most effective way for fleet managers to green their fleets, including buying greener vehicles, switching to cleaner fuels, or improving fleet efficiency.
State Agency Coordination to Address Climate Change
Archived: 04/29/2014
The following was superseded by Executive Order 14-04, 2014: The Washington Department of Ecology worked with the Washington Departments of Commerce and Transportation to assess whether California’s low carbon fuel standard (LCFS) or other state standards would help Washington meet its greenhouse gas emissions reduction target of 1990 levels by 2020.
The Department of Transportation must work in consultation with the Departments of Ecology and Commerce and other interest groups to address low or zero emission vehicles. Additionally, the Office of the Governor will work with state agencies to seek funding to implement a project for the electrification of the West Coast interstate highway and associated metropolitan centers and to purchase electric vehicles and install public fueling and/or charging infrastructure for electric and other high-efficiency, zero, or low carbon vehicles. See the West Coast Green Highway Initiative website for additional details.
(Reference Executive Order 09-05, 2009)
Alternative Fuel Loans and Grants
Archived: 03/01/2014
The Washington Department of Commerce administers the Energy Freedom Program (Program) in consultation with other state agencies. The Program includes the Energy Freedom Account, which provides financial and technical assistance for bioenergy production, research, and market development, primarily in the form of loans used to convert farm products, organic wastes, cellulose and biogas into electricity, biofuel, and related co-products. The Program also includes the Green Energy Incentive Account, which provides financial assistance for alternative fueling infrastructure along interstate corridors. As of March 2014, no funding was available for these programs, which were set to expire after June 30, 2016. For more information, refer to the Clean Energy Funds website. (Reference Revised Code of Washington 43.325)
Plug-In Electric Vehicle (PEV) Demonstration Grants
Archived: 03/01/2014
The Washington Department of Commerce (Department) administers the Vehicle Electrification Demonstration Grant Program as part of the Energy Freedom Program. Eligible applicants include state agencies, public school districts, public utility districts, or political subdivisions of the state. The Department may award grants for projects involving the purchase or conversion of existing vehicles to PEVs for use in an applicant's fleet or operations. Additional eligibility requirements apply. As of March 2014, funding is not available. (Reference Revised Code of Washington 43.325.110)
Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Study
Archived: 10/01/2013
In October 2013, the Climate Legislative and Executive Workgroup finalized a report, Evaluation of Approaches to Reduce GHG Emissions in Washington State, for the governor. The report evaluates strategies for the state to reduce its GHG emissions and makes recommendations. The evaluation includes a review of state policies to stabilize or reduce GHG emissions, including converting public vehicles to alternative fuels and public alternative fuel vehicle (AFV) acquisition requirements. Potential strategies evaluated include increasing the state renewable fuel standard, as well as implementing a state low carbon fuel standard, zero emission vehicle goal, additional production of biofuels and feedstocks, or AFV incentives. (Reference Senate Bill 5802, 2013)
Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) Incentive - ECOtality
Expired: 03/11/2013
Through the EV Project, ECOtality offers EVSE at no cost to individuals in the Seattle metropolitan area. To be eligible for free home charging stations, individuals living within the specified areas must purchase a qualified plug-in electric vehicle (PEV). Individuals purchasing an eligible PEV should apply at the dealership at the time of vehicle purchase. The EV Project incentive program will also cover most, if not all, of the costs of EVSE installation. All participants in the EV Project incentive program must agree to anonymous data collection after installation. Additional restrictions may apply.
Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) Project Funding
Archived: 01/01/2013
The Washington Departments of Commerce and Transportation are partnering to fund the installation of qualified EVSE along the I-5 and US-2 corridors. As of January, 2013, the Departments have fully allocated funds for this project. For more information see the Electric Highways Project website.
Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) Incentive - Coulomb Technologies
Expired: 07/01/2012
Coulomb Technologies' ChargePoint America program offers EVSE at no cost to individuals or entities in the Bellevue and Redmond metropolitan areas, excluding Seattle. To be eligible for free home charging stations, individuals living within the specified areas must purchase a qualified plug-in electric vehicle. Application information is available on the ChargePoint America website. In most cases, the EVSE owner will pay for the installation; some cities, states, and utilities, however, will provide funding towards installation costs. All participants in the ChargePoint America program must agree to anonymous data collection after installation. Additional restrictions may apply.
Clean Fuel Vehicle Purchasing Requirement
Archived: 04/01/2012
At least 30% of all new vehicles purchased through a state contract must be clean fuel vehicles, based on the Washington Department of Ecology definitions. The percentage of clean fuel vehicles purchased must increase at the rate of 5% each year. Dedicated clean fuel vehicles are preferred. In the event that dedicated clean fuel vehicles are not available or would not meet operation requirements, conventionally powered vehicles may be converted to operate on clean fuel or dual-fuel use. (Reference Revised Code of Washington 43.19.637)
Regional Climate Change Initiative
Archived: 03/01/2011
Governors of Washington, Oregon, and California approved a series of recommendations for action to combat climate change, as detailed in the West Coast Governors' Global Warming Initiative. The three states must act individually and regionally to reduce greenhouse gases (GHGs). The initiative includes adopting standards to reduce GHG emissions from vehicles by expanding markets for efficiency, renewable energy and alternative fuels, including creating a working group on developing hydrogen fuel. Building upon this commitment, Washington joined other western states and several Canadian provinces to sign an agreement establishing the Western Climate Initiative, a joint effort to reduce GHG emissions and address climate change.
Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) Tax Exemption
Expired: 01/01/2011
All new passenger cars, light-duty trucks, and medium-duty passenger vehicles that use hybrid electric technology and have a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimated highway fuel economy of at least 40 miles per gallon are exempt from the state motor vehicle sales tax. This tax exemption expires January 1, 2011. (Reference Revised Code of Washington 82.08.020)
Fleet Action Plan - Seattle
Archived: 02/01/2010
The Clean Green Fleet Action Plan aims to increase the use of alternative fuels, reduce fleet fuel use, reduce vehicle emissions, and improve the fuel efficiency of the City of Seattle's (Seattle's) fleet. Download Adobe Reader. Seattle's long-term intent is to continue participating in the Northwest Hybrid Medium and Heavy Duty Truck Consortium and to continue increasing the use of E85 fuel and electric vehicles. Seattle met its original goal to have a fleet that is 100% clean and green, through the use of clean fuels and vehicles that have the highest fuel efficiency and the lowest emissions and meet the needs of Seattle's operations. Seattle also met the specific measures called for in the plan, including a 5% reduction in the fleet's annual fuel use by 2005 as compared to 1999.
State Fleet Petroleum Reduction
Archived: 09/01/2009
State agencies must take all reasonable actions to achieve a 20% reduction in petroleum use in all state and privately owned vehicles used for state business by September 1, 2009. Strategies to achieve this goal include energy-efficient use of state resources and giving priority to the purchase and use of hybrid electric and other fuel-efficient, low emission vehicles (those that achieve a minimum of 30 miles per gallon and meet U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Tier 2 emission standards). (Reference Executive Order 05-01, 2005)
Clean School Bus Funding
Expired: 05/01/2009
Until July 1, 2020, 85% of the money from the segregated subaccount of the state treasury's air pollution control account must be distributed to air pollution control authorities. Of the money received by an air pollution control authority or the state Department of Licensing, 85% must be used for the Clean School Bus Program to retrofit school buses with exhaust emission control devices or to provide funding for fueling infrastructure needed to allow school bus fleets access to use alternative, cleaner fuels. (Reference Revised Code of Washington 70.94.017)
Clean School Bus Pilot Project
Archived: 09/01/2005
Two school districts were selected to participate in a pilot project on the use of biodiesel with ultra low sulfur diesel (ULSD) in school buses, with blends of 80% ultra low sulfur diesel and 20% biodiesel (B20). The pilot project began in September of 2003, with emissions testing at specified intervals throughout the project. The Superintendent of Public Instruction is expected to submit a report of findings, including issues related to the maintenance of the vehicles, to the legislature by September 1, 2005. (Reference RCW 28A.160.804)
High Tech Business Exemption
Expired: 07/01/2004
Qualifying high technology businesses are exempt from state sales and use taxes. The definition of high technology businesses includes developers of alternative energy resources. The exemption is 100% with no limit and expires on July 1, 2004. (Reference RCW 82.63)