Washington CFS Program
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
Washington CFS
The Washington Carbon Fuel Program is a regulation designed to reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions associated with the lifecycle of transportation fuels used in the state of Washington. The Washington Clean Fuel Standard (WCFS) is designed to decrease the Carbon Intensity (CI) of Washington's transportation fuels by providing an increasing range of low carbon and renewable alternatives that reduce dependency on fossil fuels to improve air quality.
The WCFS program, administered by the Washington State Department of Ecology (WDEQ), is aimed at cutting statewide greenhouse gas emissions by 4.3 million metric tons a year by requiring fuel suppliers to reduce the CI of transportation fuels. The WCFS law requires fuel suppliers to gradually reduce the CI of transportation fuels to 20% below 2017 levels by 2034.
PROGRAM BENEFITS
Benefits of opting into the WCFS
By opting into the WCFS program and providing electricity as transportation fuel, electricity providers can earn Clean Fuel Standard (CFS) credits for each metric ton of CO2 equivalent (MTCO2e) emissions avoided through the use of electricity. CFS credits hold a dormant monetary value and may be sold to regulated parties who must offset their CFS deficits created by the production, supply, and sale of fuels with a CI level higher than WDEQ’s target amount.
PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY
Who can participate in the WCFS program?
Under the WCFS program, for electricity used as a transportation fuel, the entities that are eligible to generate WCFS credits include:
- Electric Vehicle Service Providers (EVSP)
- Electric Vehicle (EV) fleet operators
- Electric forklift fleet operators
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
Are there any requirements after opting into the WCFS program?
Electricity providers that opt into the WCFS program are subject to the reporting and record-keeping requirements. The electricity provider must submit quarterly and annual reports. The data for the quarterly reports must be uploaded and submitted to the Washington Fuels Reporting System – Credit Bank and Transfer System (WFRS-CBTS) by the deadlines shown below:
- June 30th – for the first calendar quarter covering January through March
- September 30th – for the second calendar quarter covering April through June
- December 31st – for the third calendar quarter covering July through September
- March 31st – for the fourth calendar quarter covering October through December
Annual reporting for the prior calendar year must be submitted in the LRT-CBTS by April 30th of each year.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Where can you learn more about the WCFS program?
For more information about Washington’s WCFS program, you can visit their website here:
For additional details pertaining to WCFS regulation, click the link below: