Senate Bill 5766 would set up a remittance program by January 1, 2024, for farmers and haulers of agricultural freight.
Oats in the field ( Photo: Grain Farmers of Ontario )
A bill intended to protect farmers from increased carbon tax fuel costs due to the Climate Commitment Act’s cap on greenhouse gases
The scheme would require farmers and haulers to submit receipts on a quarterly basis showing fuel purchases to qualify for a payment equal to the price of a ton of carbon tax at the most recent emissions auction, multiplied by eight-tenths of 1% for each gallon of fuel claimed.
However, Section 3 of the bill prohibits businesses from including a separate charge or cost on any invoice or billing statement indicating that the charge or cost, or any portion of it, is imposed or collected in relation to this chapter. The provision would prevent fuel suppliers from listing the cost of a carbon tax on invoices. Senators Mark Mullet and Joe Nguyễn added Section 3 as “a starting point for negotiations.”
The bill was never intended to pass in its initial form, according to Mullet
The Governor’s Office has stated that sponsors are pulling the bill and are not pursuing it anymore, and it is unlikely to get a hearing.
The Climate Commitment Act was signed into law by Governor Jay Inslee in 2021, requiring emitters to obtain “emissions allowances” equal to their covered greenhouse gas emissions. The first auction was held in February, bringing in just under $300 million.
BP has announced that it has the guidance needed to stop applying surcharges to most exempt fuels and begin issuing refunds, although most companies are refusing to act.
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