Data entry error significantly inflated the reported emissions reduction for Commerce programs
The Washington State Department of Commerce has submitted revised greenhouse gas emissions data to the Department of Ecology for projects funded by the Climate Commitment Act (CCA) during 2023-25.
Due to a data entry error, Commerce reported that 7.5 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions would be reduced as a result of eight rebate projects funded by the CCA that support home electrification and appliance rebates for low-income and vulnerable communities. The corrected data now estimates that 78,000 tons of emissions will be reduced over the lifetime of those projects.
This data is part of an annual report by Ecology detailing how more than $1.5 billion in funds raised through the CCA have been appropriated by lawmakers. Since becoming aware of the error, Ecology has been conducting a full review of all the data submitted. This data encompasses more than 3,600 projects by 37 agencies. Ecology will release a corrected report when that review is complete. That is expected in the coming weeks.
The rebates program is one of many CCA-funded projects administered by Commerce. With this correction, Commerce is now reporting a total reduction in emissions of nearly 308,000 tons across all their CCA-funded programs.
“We made an error in reporting data for this program. The Climate Commitment Act is a vital part of the state’s efforts to control carbon emissions, and we’re committed to ensuring that the information we share is complete and accurate,” said Jennifer Grove, assistant director of Energy for Commerce. “Corrective measures are already in place to strengthen our processes and prevent similar errors in the future.”
“Accurate data is essential to guiding our state’s work to reduce carbon pollution,” said Joel Creswell, manager of Ecology’s Climate Pollution Reduction program. “We’re updating our processes to more thoroughly check data reported by agencies so this doesn’t happen again.”
Moving forward, agencies will report greenhouse gas reductions through a new online tool that will reduce the potential for human error.
More about the report and Climate Commitment Act
The CCA is designed to reduce climate pollution from the state’s biggest sources 95% by 2050. The primary way it does this is by capping greenhouse gas emissions and requiring major sources of that pollution to purchase or obtain allowances equal to their emissions. Over time, the number of allowances is gradually reduced, pushing companies to cut emissions. Lawmakers may also use the revenue generated by allowance sales to further reduce emissions or do other climate-related work.
At the end of each fiscal year, state agencies that receive CCA funding are required to report their expenditures to Ecology, which compiles that information into a report to the Legislature. The latest report details how $1.5 billion of CCA revenue was invested by 37 state agencies during the 2023-25 biennium. In addition to projected greenhouse gas reductions, the report includes whether a project benefited vulnerable populations, whether a project received tribal support, and other benefits achieved.
As Ecology works to update the report’s greenhouse gas data, lawmakers and the public may still use the current version to understand how the CCA is helping communities across the state. Many of the investments made to date lay a foundation for a clean economy, such as building infrastructure for storing and transmitting renewable energy and developing a skilled workforce to support it. Most projects also increase equity and provide other benefits, such as improving air quality or lowering energy costs for those who need it most. CCA funding is also helping communities adapt to a warming climate, such as preventing wildfires and floods and protecting people from extreme heat.