OLYMPIA, Wash. — Sponsors of an initiative to roll back restrictions on natural gas use are confident voters will be heard on the issue in November.
“I have no doubt we are going to qualify,” said Greg Lane, executive vice president of the Building Industry of Washington, sponsors of Initiative 2066.
The initiative would repeal portions of House Bill 1589, passed by state legislators earlier this year.
“This is an unreasonable mandate,” said Lane.
He said the intent of the original law is to limit natural gas use in the state of Washington, something he said would result in higher construction costs. Lane said state lawmakers want to eventually go to an all-out ban on gas.
"This is just the start," said Lane.
The initiative would make it illegal for cities or counties to prohibit, penalize, or discourage the use of gas for heating and appliances and would overturn building codes prohibiting the installation of gas furnaces in new commercial and residential properties.
The Washington Hospitality Association is also part of the campaign. The association has said limiting natural gas would harm businesses that rely on natural gas, like restaurants and breweries.
”The bill is not a ban on natural gas,” said state Rep. Beth Doglio, “Anyone in this state who is served by Puget Sound Energy, if they want gas, Puget Sound Energy is obligated to provide them with gas.”
Doglio, D-Olympia, sponsored House Bill 1889, which she called a planning bill, laying out a framework for Puget Sound Energy to transition away from natural gas.
“Puget Sound Energy is one of the largest polluters in the state because of their use of gas,” said Doglio, “Unfortunately, gas is a major greenhouse gas contributor.”
Doglio said that, under the law, current gas customers would be able to keep their gas service.
“If a customer, if the brewery downtown, wants to have gas come into their place of business, Puget Sound Energy, under the statute, is obligated to provide that service to them.”
Signatures must be submitted to the Secretary of State’s Office by Friday, July 5.
Lane said sponsors have gathered more than 315,000 signatures and hope to have another 100,000 by the deadline, more than enough to qualify for the November ballot.