Washington state voters just approved a ballot initiative with 52% of the vote to prevent local or state government from blocking the use of natural gas in homes and businesses. The measure also requires that utilities serve customers who request natural gas.
The passage of Ballot Initiative 2066 is an important step in defending energy choices for consumers. Washington State has set an unrealistic goal of net-zero emissions by 2050 while tending to favor restrictive energy policies over consumer preferences.
The initiative defends the benefits of natural gas availability, stating “The people find that having access to natural gas enhances the safety, welfare, and standard of living of all people in Washington. The people further find that preserving Washington’s gas infrastructure and systems will promote energy choice, security, independence, and resilience throughout the state.”
These points are all important benefits of gas availability. When the power goes out due to storms, or for any other reason, a gas stove and gas furnace allow people to cook and stay warm. Retaining two energy streams in the home—natural gas and electricity—provides resilience to unpredictable situations that electricity alone cannot. Consumers should have the right to choose what is best for them in structuring their energy use.
The initiative supports “strengthening utilities’ obligation to provide natural gas to customers who want it,” and “preventing regulatory actions that will limit access to gas.” It contains language requiring gas companies to supply natural gas to residential and commercial customers within their service areas that request it, regardless of whether other energy sources or services are available to them. This prevents customers from being forced to switch to electricity-based heating and appliances if they prefer to keep natural gas.
It also contains language to prevent the state energy code from prohibiting the use of natural gas, “The Washington state energy code may not in any way prohibit, penalize, or discourage the use of gas for any form of heating, or for uses related to any appliance or equipment, in any building.” This language is important because building codes can make it so difficult to use natural gas in new construction buildings that it becomes a de facto ban. Ensuring that this overregulation doesn’t occur is essential to maintaining consumer choice.
Opponents of the initiative have vowed legal challenges, arguing that the initiative was misleading and violated requirements that ballot initiatives be limited to a single subject.
Washington State isn’t the only blue area to do a 180 on natural gas. Berkeley, California—which passed the first-ever U.S. ban on natural gas hookups—soundly rejected a natural gas tax, Measure GG, for 15,000 plus square feet buildings this past election. Despite passing the first gas-hookup ban, the liberal 9th Circuit Court of Appeals said Berkeley can’t enforce the ban.
It will be interesting to see how those eventual legal challenges play out but for now, passage of this ballot measure is an important step in safeguarding natural gas access in Washington state.