US EditionWA Dept. of Commerce Corrects Climate Report Data After Error Vastly Overstates Emission Cuts
Washington State Ecology corrected a 7.5 million metric ton overstatement to 78,000 tons in Climate Commitment Act project emissions reductions due to a data entry error.
- Last month, Washington State Department of Commerce reported 7.5 million metric tons reduced by eight CCA rebate projects, but Washington State Department of Ecology acknowledged the totals were vastly inflated.
- A data-entry mistake and manual reporting processes caused inflated totals from more than 3,600 projects across 37 agencies, State and Commerce officials said.
- Todd Myers with the Washington Policy Center first flagged the figures Tuesday, noting the Ellensburg Public Works Department's $1.4 million project claimed an implausible 3.5 million metric tons cut.
- Ecology is conducting a full review and will issue a corrected report in the coming weeks as Commerce implements agency oversight changes and adopts online reporting tools.
- The error calls into question how more than $1.5 billion in CCA revenue was allocated during the 2023-25 budget cycle, especially for home electrification and appliance rebates for low-income and vulnerable households.
16 Articles
16 Articles
Washington state officials vastly overstated emission reductions from climate law due to 'data entry error'
The Washington Department of Commerce vastly overstated the amount of greenhouse gas emissions that would be reduced by eight rebate projects funded by state pollution fees in a report published last year, the agency acknowledged Tuesday.
A 7.5-million-ton mistake about the Climate Commitment Act
The Washington State Commerce Department said, thanks to money raised by the Climate Commitment Act (CCA), it is funding rebate projects that allow lower-income families to switch from fossil fuels to electric power and appliances in their homes. The department reported that, over its lifetime, the program would reduce 7.5 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions. Only it won’t. It’ll only reduce 78,000 tons of emissions. The department blamed a…
The Center Square
Ecology confirms Commerce ‘significantly inflated’ CCA emissions reductions
(The Center Square) – The state Department of Ecology has admitted that a recent report on carbon emission reductions through projects financed by the Climate Commitment Act was “significantly inflated”
King5 News
WA Dept. of Commerce corrects climate report data after error vastly overstates emission cuts
The department originally reported that 7.5 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions would be reduced. The actual amount is around 78,000.
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