RCW 43.330.565
Office of renewable fuels—Established.
(1) The statewide office of renewable fuels is established within the department. The office shall report to the director of the department. The office may employ staff as necessary to carry out the office's duties as prescribed by chapter 292, Laws of 2022, subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose.
(2) The purpose of the office is to leverage, support, and integrate with other state agencies to:
(a) Accelerate comprehensive market development with assistance along the entire life cycle of renewable fuel projects;
(b) Support research into and development and deployment of renewable fuel and the production, distribution, and use of renewable and green electrolytic hydrogen and their derivatives, as well as product engineering and manufacturing relating to the production and use of such hydrogen and its derivatives;
(c) Drive job creation, improve economic vitality, and support the transition to clean energy;
(d) Enhance resiliency by using renewable fuels and green electrolytic hydrogen to support climate change mitigation and adaptations; and
(e) Partner with overburdened communities to ensure communities equitably benefit from renewable and clean fuels efforts.
[ 2022 c 292 § 102.]
NOTES:
Findings—Intent—2022 c 292: "(1) The legislature finds that while hydrogen fuel has been used in a variety of applications in the state, the source of hydrogen has been derived from fossil fuel feedstocks, such as natural gas. Hydrogen is an essential building block and energy carrier molecule that is necessary in the production of conventional and renewable fuels and a valuable decarbonization tool when used in sectors such as marine, aviation, steel, aluminum, and cement, as well as surface transportation including heavy-duty vehicles, such as transit, trucking, and drayage equipment. Hydrogen can be a carbon-free fuel with an energy per unit mass that is three to four times greater than jet fuel, whose energy can be extracted either through thermochemical (combustion) or electrochemical (fuel cell) processes. In both cases, the only by-product is water, instead of the greenhouse gases and other conventional and toxic pollutants that are emitted from using fossil fuels.
(2) The legislature further finds that the use of renewable hydrogen and hydrogen produced from carbon-free feedstocks through electrolysis is an essential tool to a clean energy ecosystem and emissions reduction for challenging infrastructure needs. Clean hydrogen fuel can be produced or "charged" closer to the generation of the electricity when the electrical supply grid has surplus energy, at times of low electricity use, such as evenings, then made available at times of higher need and convenient locations, such as fueling stations, avoiding the need to build or upgrade larger electrical infrastructure, including distribution systems, to meet higher peak demand for electricity.
(3) Therefore, the legislature intends by this act to establish policies and a framework for the state to become a national and global leader in the production and use of these hydrogen fuels. This act will create an office of renewable fuels to: Promote partnerships among industrial, transportation, agriculture, and commercial interests as well as fuel producers, the technology research sector, and public sector agencies; identify barriers to and opportunities for market development; provide greater clarity and certainty in regulatory and siting standards; provide incentives and financial assistance in the deployment of hydrogen fuel infrastructure; support a clean and just energy transition; help create good quality, clean energy jobs; and improve air quality in degraded areas, particularly in communities that have borne disproportionate levels of air pollution from the combustion of fossil fuels." [ 2022 c 292 § 1.]
Structure Revised Code of Washington
Title 43 - State Government—Executive
Chapter 43.330 - Department of Commerce.
43.330.007 - Management responsibility.
43.330.020 - Department created.
43.330.030 - Director—Appointment—Salary.
43.330.040 - Director powers and duties.
43.330.050 - Community and economic development responsibilities.
43.330.060 - Trade and business responsibilities.
43.330.065 - Identification of countries of strategic importance for international trade relations.
43.330.068 - International companies investing in Washington—Eligibility for excise tax incentives.
43.330.070 - Local development capacity—Training and technical assistance.
43.330.075 - Local government regulation and policy handouts—Technical assistance.
43.330.084 - Washington state quality award—Reimbursement of application fee.
43.330.086 - Contracts with associate development organizations—Schedule of awards.
43.330.094 - Tourism development and promotion account—Promotion of tourism industry.
43.330.100 - Local infrastructure and public facilities—Grants and loans.
43.330.110 - Housing—Energy assistance.
43.330.120 - Growth management.
43.330.125 - Assistance to counties and cities.
43.330.135 - Court-appointed special advocate programs—Funds—Eligibility.
43.330.150 - Fees—Conferences, workshops, training.
43.330.152 - Fees—Service and product delivery areas.
43.330.155 - Community and economic development fee account.
43.330.156 - Fees—Adoption by rule.
43.330.167 - Washington youth and families fund.
43.330.170 - Statewide housing market analysis.
43.330.181 - Office of apple health and homes—Responsibilities.
43.330.184 - Apple health and homes account.
43.330.187 - Rapid permanent supportive housing acquisition and development program.
43.330.190 - Reimbursement of extraordinary criminal justice costs.
43.330.270 - Innovation partnership zone program.
43.330.300 - Financial fraud and identity theft crimes investigation and prosecution program.
43.330.310 - Comprehensive green economy jobs growth initiative—Establishment.
43.330.330 - Funding energy efficiency improvements—Risk reduction mechanisms—Legislative intent.
43.330.340 - Appliance efficiency rebate program.
43.330.360 - Findings—Involvement of state bond authorities in financing energy efficiency projects.
43.330.365 - Electric vehicle incentive account.
43.330.370 - Evergreen jobs initiative.
43.330.409 - Broadband mapping, deployment, and adoption—Reports.
43.330.412 - Community technology opportunity program—Administration—Grant program.
43.330.421 - Advisory group on digital inclusion and technology planning.
43.330.425 - Advisory committee on permanent supportive housing.
43.330.430 - Developmental disabilities endowment—Definitions.
43.330.431 - Developmental disabilities endowment—Trust fund.
43.330.434 - Developmental disabilities endowment—Endowment principles.
43.330.435 - Developmental disabilities endowment—Development of operating plan—Elements.
43.330.436 - Developmental disabilities endowment—Program implementation and administration.
43.330.437 - Developmental disabilities endowment—Rules.
43.330.440 - Multijurisdictional regulatory streamlining projects—Establishment—Reports.
43.330.460 - Washington achieving a better life experience program—Definitions.
43.330.462 - Washington achieving a better life experience program account.
43.330.468 - Washington achieving a better life experience program—Governing board authority.
43.330.480 - Low-income home rehabilitation revolving loan program—Definitions.
43.330.482 - Low-income home rehabilitation revolving loan program.
43.330.488 - Low-income home rehabilitation revolving loan program—Account.
43.330.500 - Life sciences discovery fund.
43.330.502 - Life sciences discovery fund—Grants and contracts by department.
43.330.504 - Life sciences discovery fund—Department powers.
43.330.506 - Life sciences discovery fund—Limitation of liability.
43.330.510 - Keep Washington working statewide work group.
43.330.520 - Military installation incompatible development—Project list—Report.
43.330.530 - Broadband office—Definitions.
43.330.532 - Broadband office—Established—Purpose.
43.330.534 - Broadband office—Powers and duties.
43.330.536 - Broadband office—Goals.
43.330.538 - Broadband office—Reports.
43.330.539 - Broadband office—Digital equity plan.
43.330.5393 - Digital equity planning grant program.
43.330.5395 - Digital equity forum.
43.330.540 - Cannabis social equity technical assistance grant program.
43.330.542 - Environmental justice obligations of the department of commerce.
43.330.545 - Community engagement grants—Law enforcement.
43.330.550 - Employer-supported child care—Technical assistance.
43.330.560 - Office of renewable fuels—Definitions.
43.330.565 - Office of renewable fuels—Established.
43.330.570 - Office of renewable fuels—Duties.
43.330.575 - Renewable fuels accelerator account.
43.330.700 - Findings—Homeless youth.
43.330.702 - Homeless youth—Definitions.
43.330.705 - Homeless youth—Office of homeless youth prevention and protection programs.
43.330.706 - Homeless youth—Data and outcomes measures—Report.
43.330.715 - Homeless youth—Training program.
43.330.717 - Homeless youth—Review of state-funded programs.
43.330.723 - Youth and young adults exiting publicly funded system of care—Flexible funding.
43.330.725 - Youth and young adults exiting publicly funded system of care—System of care grants.
43.330.730 - Finding—2015 c 296.
43.330.735 - Washington small business retirement marketplace.
43.330.740 - Payment of marketplace expenses—Use of private and federal funding.
43.330.745 - Incentive payments.
43.330.750 - Rules—Rule development process.
43.330.760 - Intent—2021 c 64.
43.330.762 - Manufacturing—Goals and strategies—Reports—Manufacturing council.
43.330.765 - Manufacturing—Regional strategies—Grants.
43.330.767 - Manufacturing cluster acceleration account.
43.330.770 - Manufacturing—Workforce innovation sector lead—Reports.
43.330.772 - Subject to appropriation.
43.330.900 - References to director and department.
43.330.902 - Effective date—1993 c 280.
43.330.9021 - Effective date—1994 c 5.