OLYMPIA – It may be a simple “housekeeping” bill, but it’s vitally important for Washington’s automotive dealers and helps the environment as well. Yesterday, it cleared another hurdle in the Legislative process when it was voted out of the Senate Committee on Environment and Water & Energy.
House Bill 1135, sponsored by Rep. Fred Finn (D – rural Thurston County), makes it easier for car manufacturers to comply with our state’s “clean car” standards when it comes to vehicle air conditioners. Specifically, it takes the Legislature completely out of the process of approving safe refrigerant substances, and instead grants the state Department of Ecology the same authority.
“We’ve long banned cholorofluorocarbon-12 from vehicle air conditioners, because it contributes to depletion of the earth’s ozone layer,” said Finn. “But the list of safe, alternative substitutes changes over time. Rather than the Legislature having to revisit this year after year, we’re streamlining the process and letting Ecology update the list as necessary.”
It’s important for automotive dealers that the list be as up-to-date, Finn says, because it enables them to buy and sell their products without having to navigate another regulatory hurdle.
As new alternatives become available, the Department of Ecology can add them to the list of safe alternatives more quickly than if the Legislature had to approve them each year.
“Newer alternative refrigerants have almost no greenhouse gas emissions, and it makes sense to get these approved sooner rather than later,” Finn said.
The bill is supported by both automobile manufacturers and the Department of Ecology. It now awaits a full floor vote in the Senate.