WASHINGTON – As of 8:29 p.m. on November 5, early results show that Washington voters are leaning against Initiative 2117, which seeks to repeal the state’s cap on carbon emissions for certain businesses. With 52% of votes counted, 62.5% have voted "No," amounting to 1,422,562 votes, while 37.5% have voted "Yes," with 852,395 votes.
The ballot measure aimed to dismantle Washington’s current climate legislation requiring high-emission businesses to either reduce their greenhouse gas emissions or purchase allowances to offset them. Supporters of the repeal argued that the law imposes financial burdens on businesses, while opponents believe it is a necessary step to address climate change.
With over half of the vote counted, the measure appears unlikely to pass, though further counts may provide additional clarity. Final results will be available as additional ballots are processed.
Clare is an Eastern Washington University graduate and a reporter at Free Press Publishing.
Reader Comments(0)