by Jerry Cornfield, Washington State Standard
November 6, 2024
A measure to block Washington’s aggressive efforts to phase out the use of natural gas in homes and other buildings was still passing after a second day of ballot counting.
Initiative 2066 was up by a 51.3% to 48% margin in statewide voting results as of 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. Vote counting will continue in the days ahead.
The initiative would repeal provisions of a new state law meant to hasten Puget Sound Energy’s transition away from natural gas. It would also bar cities and counties from prohibiting, penalizing or discouraging the use of gas for heating and appliances.
The Building Industry Association of Washington is the driving force behind the measure.
Greg Lane, BIAW’s executive vice president, expressed confidence the measure will be approved.
“We all know there are thousands more ballots to count,” he said in a statement. “When we prevail, voters will have sent a strong message to Olympia that families and businesses want to keep natural gas as an energy choice.”
Opponents have said they plan to sue if the initiative passes. They contend it violates a provision in the state constitution that limits the content of citizen initiatives to a single subject.
Gov. Jay Inslee agrees. “I think there is a very good chance the court will find it defective,” he said at a news conference Wednesday.
Authors of the initiative say it was carefully crafted with such a potential challenge in mind and that every section addresses protecting the choice to access and use natural gas.
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