Inslee wants new rule by next summer to cap carbon emissions

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Gov. Jay Inslee is asking the director of Ecology to do "everything possible" to come up with a binding cap on greenhouse gas emissions by next summer.

After failing to get legislation on his cap-and-trade program, Inslee announced last month he would use his executive authority to develop a cap under the state's Clean Air Act.

In a letter Thursday to Ecology Director Maia Bellon, the governor said he hopes she will start the rule-making process in late September and have a proposed rule out for public review by January. He said he believes a rule could be adopted by summer 2016.

Unlike legislation he sought earlier this year, this proposal won't charge emitters for carbon pollution. But Inslee says the cap on carbon emissions must decline over time.

He also wants broad input as well as compliance options for those covered by the rule.