Агентства Вашингтона снова нарушили закон о биодизеле, используя лишь 1,2% вместо требуемых 20%

Washington state agencies break biodiesel mandate again Published 10:45 am Thursday, August 27, 2026 State has never met the law’s requirements, but there are no consequences Washington state government’s use of biodiesel dropped to an all-time low last year, despite a law purportedly requiring the state to buy the greener alternative fuel. The law mandates agencies and universities, excluding ferries, use 20% biodiesel in diesel-powered vehicles, vessels and construction equipment. The state, however, blended in only 1.2%, the lowest level since the Department of Enterprise Services started issuing annual reports in 2016. The Legislature set the 20% standard in 2009 as a reaction to global warming. Biodiesel emits 74% less greenhouse gas than regular diesel, according to the U.S. Energy Department. The state has never met the mark. Biodiesel use was 12.9% in 2016, but has drifted downward since, even as legislators passed other laws to cut fossil fuels in the private sector. Nevertheless, the law stays on the books, and enterprise services issues annual reports. Rather than transitioning to greener fuels, state government is moving in the other direction, according to the new report. The law apparently lacks teeth, Clean Fuels Alliance America state government affairs director Jeff Earl said. Biodiesel is available and cost-competitive, especially with the high price of regular diesel, he said, “Right now we’re producing more than we ever have,” Earl said. “It’s not a failure on our industry’s part to supply fuel.” Ferries are required to use 5% biodiesel, instead of 20%. For the first time since 2018, ferries failed to meet the standard and used only 1.8% biodiesel. Biodiesel purchases dropped by 79%. The ferry system reported no biodiesel-related performance problems, but there was a significant supply shortage, according to enterprise services. A federal tax credit for blending in biodiesel expired at the end of 2024, and biodiesel deliveries paused from April through September, according to the report. Other Department of Transportation divisions were the next biggest fuel users. The department bought little biodiesel, but purchased more than 1.4 million gallons of renewable diesel. Combined, biofuels made up 64% of the department’s diesel purchases. The department was the only agency that bought renewable diesel, according to the report. Other state agencies, though purportedly bound by the 20% standard, used little biodiesel. The volume equaled 0.4% of diesel use. Enterprises services suggested places that the departments of Fish and Wildlife, Corrections, Parks and Recreation, and Social and Health Services could use biodiesel. The recommendations were identical to last year’s report.