The Bellingham Whatcom Chamber of Commerce & Industry strongly opposes HB 3181 and SB 6851, which would triple the tax on oil refineries in the State of Washington.

While we completely support efforts to address the substantial water quality issues faced by cities and counties across our state, a tax that will only be felt by residents of Whatcom and Skagit Counties is not the way to pay for these important needs.  It is completely unfair that people in King County, Spokane, Tacoma, and elsewhere in the state should receive money to clean-up their stormwater while we face all the pain.

And that pain could be substantial.  With only 5 refineries in the state, and all of them in our area, the increase of over $200 million in new taxes could force at least one refinery to close completely, others to curtail they employment, and all to slow down or stop major capital investments in their plants.  Just one of these refineries is close to starting a $500 million capital improvement, with much of the construction work coming from right here in Whatcom County.

Below is a video of testimony given by Chamber President/CEO Ken Oplinger in Olympia on February 18th.  Please take a moment to review it, and consider writing a letter to the six members of our state legislative delegation (from the 40th and 42nd Districts) expressing your strong opposition to these bills.  We must address our water quality issues across the state, but the money to do that needs to come from everyone, not just from those of us in these two, small counties.