The Washington farm community is already preparing to fight several pieces of low carbon legislation expected during the 2021 session. The Washington Farm Bureau’s Bre Elsey says roughly 75% of the proposals expected this session are bills from the past that failed to gain needed support in Olympia. However, she noted one new idea, sponsored by Representatives Sharon Shewmake and Debra Lekanoff, should be of concern for the farming community. Elsey added supporters of the Green Bonds Bill will claim funds raised by this legislation will benefit a host of environmental projects.

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“But it’s a massive tax bill.  It’s going to be pretty dangerous for agriculture, although it’s framed in a way that looks like it’s helpful to agriculture.  I don’t see where a farmer could survive to the end of this tax bill.”

Elsey added the revisited proposals include low carbon fuel standards as well as Cap and Trade.

The 2021 Washington session, which will be virtual, gets underway January 11th.

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