In the Guardian News 11/7/2018: Measure known as Initiative 1631 would have put a $15 fee on each ton of carbon dioxide emitted in the state
However, voters rejected the initiative because “they understood it was a flawed initiative that would have raised consumer costs substantially while doing very little to meet carbon reduction goals in the state”, according to Catherine Reheis-Boyd, president of the Western States Petroleum Association, which spearheaded the no vote. Oil giant BP and others spent $30m opposing carbon pricing.
Environmentalists vowed to persevere. “While we still believe that a carbon fee would be a helpful solution, we can and must do more to find and adopt other creative solutions to slow global warming,” said Bruce Speight, director of Environment Washington.A spokesman for the yes on the 1631 campaign said the group hadn’t conceded defeat yet.
“The oil industry spent the most money in our state’s history and were willing to lie to voters about their support and mislead them on the facts,” he said.
The Washington vote was just one green-tinged measure rejected by voters. In Colorado, the fossil fuel industry spent more than $40m to help defeat a proposal requiring oil and gas wells to be half a mile from homes, schools and waterways.