Senator Hawkins’ bill to promote hydrogen-powered vehicles

The Senate Transportation Committee has approved Senator Brad Hawkins’ Senate Bill 5000 and the bill is now a step closer to a full Senate vote this session. The bill would establish legislation to implement an eight-year statewide pilot project to reduce sales tax on purchases of fuel-cell electric vehicles.

Senate Bill 5000, has bipartisan support and nearly 30 co-sponsors, now goes to the Senate Ways and Means Committee for further consideration. The bill was passed earlier by the Senate Environment, Energy and Technology Committee on 21st January.

SB 5000 aims to extend a similar exemption on vehicle sales tax that purchasers of traditional electric vehicles receive. With the first hydrogen-fueling stations in Washington expected to be operational by 2022, the bill would allow a total of 650 vehicles to receive a 50% sales tax exemption in fiscal years 2023 through 2029.

“I am very grateful that the bill was approved today in its fiscal committee and that it has received so much support,” said Hawkins. “Our state is really in its infancy regarding electric vehicles, so I think it’s helpful to promote multiple types of zero-emission vehicles, both battery-electric and fuel-cell electrics. This is a great step forward for the bill and the broader discussion it has generated about renewable hydrogen’s use in Washington.”

“The people of North Central Washington have been leaders in clean energy for decades, and now we’re in a position to lead the United States on renewable hydrogen use in transportation, including production, distribution, vehicles, transit buses, short-haul agriculture, and long haul opportunities,” said Hawkins.