Potential passage of I-2066 in WA fuels other groups looking to protect natural gas

(The Center Square) – Three days after the general election, county auditors are still tabulating ballots all across Washington state, with more than half a million ballots outstanding as of Friday morning. 

Supporters of Initiative 2066, to ensure natural gas as an energy choice are feeling cautiously optimistic about its passage with just over 88,000 votes to their favor.

“When all the votes come in, we’re going to win,” said Building Industry Association Vice President Greg Lane in a Tuesday night interview with The Center Square.

“More than half a million individual voters and more than 400 businesses came together to bring I-2066 to the ballot in just seven weeks. The 546,000+ signatures gathered was the second-highest for a state initiative and the most gathered in over 50 years," according to a Nov. 6 news release from BIAW.

If it passes, I-2066 would repeal parts of a 2024 law that hastens Puget Sound Energy’s transition away from natural gas as part of an overall plan toward using more electricity. 

The measure would require utilities to offer natural gas and bans any utility plan that disincentivizes or bans natural gas.

“We did this because affordable housing and providing opportunities for home ownership in the state of Washington is critical and we need to make that more affordable,” Lane said. “Policies that drive up the cost of housing both for current homeowners as well as future homeowners are not good policy and voters agreed with that.”

Opponents say the measure would undo progressive climate measures and increase costs over time.

The NO on 2066 campaign argued as more and more homeowners change out gas for electric appliances, it would leave a smaller number of residents on the hook for paying to maintain a system serving fewer customers, thereby forcing them to shoulder a larger share of operating and maintenance costs.

Puget Sound Energy reported that gas use is declining — down 7% for residential and 3% for commercial customers based on 2023 numbers.

The Center Square reached out to the Washington State Building Code Council for comment on impacts to current code assuming I-2066 passes, as the SBCC currently prohibits natural gas hookups for new homes and businesses. 

"While the passing of I-2066 could require modifications to building codes, the SBCC does not believe it would repeal the 2021 energy code," said Washington State Department of Enterprise Services Communications Manager Jennifer Reynolds via email. 

"State Building Code Council must use the rulemaking process to update state building codes. This is done every three years to align with national model codes and ensure current legislative energy policy guidance (WA State Energy Code) is up to date," said Reynolds. 

I-2066 could have an impact beyond Washington state. 

“In a state like Washington that is very progressive, for citizens here to stand up and say no, natural gas needs to be a part of the energy mix going forward and it doesn’t make sense to ban or restrict an affordable and reliable energy resource like natural gas, sends a really strong message across the country,” Lane said, adding BIAW is hearing from people in several other states.

“Our national association and my counterparts in other states have absolutely been talking to me about this and watching what happens here,” he said. “They are fighting this battle in New York, they’re fighting this battle in Illinois and they’re fighting this battle in Colorado right now and it’s coming up in other states as well. They are absolutely watching what is going to happen here in Washington and how that could impact the debate around this policy in their states.”

    As of Friday morning, I-2066 appears to be passing by a somewhat narrow margin.