NEW ANALYSIS: Washington among national leaders in electric vehicle registration

SEATTLE – Washington ranked fourth in the nation for number of registered electric vehicles on the road in 2023, according to the online Renewables on the Rise 2024 dashboard released on Wednesday by the Environment Washington Research & Policy Center.

This analysis follows the August launch of the electric vehicle instant rebate program by the Washington State Department of Commerce, created to support low-income residents purchase or lease electric vehicles. The popular program closed on October 22nd after helping more than 6000 Washingtonians switch to an electric vehicle.

Washington saw a 16-fold increase in the number of electric vehicle registrations from 2014 through 2023. The Evergreen State also added 4,299 electric vehicle charging stations over that timeframe, ranking 6th in the nation for the number of charging stations installed as of 2023.

“Washington is setting a swift pace in transitioning to electric vehicles, and ensuring our EV charging infrastructure is following suit.” said Mia Altieri, Advocate with Environment Washington Research & Policy Center. “But we need to make sure that our energy efficiency sees similar growth in the near future.”

While Washington ranked 14th nationally in total incremental lifetime savings from energy efficiency improvements installed in 2022, the state ranked 49th in terms of change in incremental lifetime energy savings between 2013 and 2022, showing slow progress compared to the rest of the country.

This new information comes as Washington’s Climate Commitment Act (CCA) is under threat of repeal on the November ballot. The CCA currently provides $35 million for the State Home Energy Assistance Program (SHEAP), which funds energy efficiency projects, such as home weatherization, and is available to more than 1.2 million Washingtonians. The CCA allocated $363 million into clean energy development, siting, and transmission from the 2023 revenue. Washington ranked 22nd nationwide for total solar, wind, and geothermal generation in 2023.

In addition to highlighting states that have made the most progress in adopting renewable energy technologies, the Renewables on the Rise 2024 dashboard also details the rapid gains achieved nationally over the past decade. According to the report, America produced more than three times as much renewable electricity from the sun and the wind in 2023 as in 2014.

The Renewables on the Rise 2024 dashboard documents the growth of six key clean energy technologies across the United States over the past decade: solar power, wind power, battery storage, energy efficiency, electric vehicles and electric vehicle charging stations.

“Millions of Americans and Washingtonians are already reaping the benefits of the dramatic clean energy progress we’ve made so far,” Altieri said. “With federal tax credits turbocharging the transition away from fossil fuels, now is the time for states to lean in on clean energy. With the funds coming in from the Climate Commitment Act, Washington can become a leader in energy efficiency in the near future.”

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Environment Washington Research & Policy Center is dedicated to protecting our air, water and open spaces. We work to protect the places we love, advance the environmental values we share, and win real results for our environment. For more information, visit www.environmentwashingtoncenter.org.