Washington state’s average gas price has again climbed above $5 per gallon, one of only three states with a price that high. According to AAA, this surge is attributed to two main factors: the war in Iran and the state’s climate law.
War in Iran Impact
The war in Iran has increased the price of a barrel of oil from about $60 to over $80, directly impacting the price of gas at the pump. As oil prices increase, so do other costs in the supply chain. The increases aren’t limited to Washington state, with the national average price of gasoline jumping from about $3 per gallon at the beginning of March to about $4 a gallon today.
Washington’s Climate Law
Washington’s climate law is also increasing gas prices. The state’s gas tax is 56.5 cents per gallon, the third-highest in the nation. A study commissioned by the Department of Ecology notes that there was a shock to Washington’s gas prices when the Clean Air Act (CCA) took effect in 2023. Experts agree that the link between the cap-and-trade program and gas price increases is clear, with Washington State seeing its prices go up because of the new system.
Original reporting: Clark County Today (Vancouver WA) — read the source article.
