(The Center Square) – In initial Tuesday night returns, Initiative 2066, which aims to ensure natural gas remains an energy choice in Washington state, was leading by a margin of 51.2% to 48.7%.
I-2066 is one of four initiatives backed by the conservative political group Let’s Go Washington.
Tuesday night’s slim lead was enough for supporters to say they were “confident” of victory.
“I think the margin looks good right now and we’ll end up winning,” said Greg Lane, Vice President of the Building Industry Association of Washington, in a Tuesday night interview with The Center Square.
“We’re sending a message to the legislature that we need to protect natural gas as an energy source for the state of Washington,” said Lane, who noted other states have been reaching out for help because of similar policies attempting to ban natural gas elsewhere.
Backers of the measure turned in more than 546,000 back in July after only 50 days to gather signatures. The shortened time was the result of a legal challenge from opponents.
The approval of 2066 will prohibit the state and all local governments from banning, restricting or discouraging the use of natural gas in new or existing homes or commercial buildings.
The ultimately successful effort to get I-2066 on the ballot was prompted by concerns over the passage of House Bill 1589 during this year’s legislative session.
HB 1589 allows Puget Sound Energy, the state’s largest utility, to start planning how to move away from natural gas as part of Gov. Jay Inslee’s efforts to fight climate change.
Opponents of I-2066 issued a report from Climate Solutions in late October that found the measure if passed, could raise consumer utility gas bills in Washington by $150 or more per year by 2035 and double them by 2050.
Climate Solutions’ argument suggested that with gas use already in decline in the state, and more people choosing electric appliances, that leaves fewer gas customers who will have to pay higher monthly energy bills to maintain a gas system.
In response to the opponents’ report, BIAW noted that an Oct. 17 report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, showed electricity costs more than three times as much as natural gas.
There are currently only seven states plus Washington, D.C. with jurisdictions restricting natural gas use in new construction. Washington state is one of these regions that have restrictions on natural gas. More than half of U.S. states have placed preemptive measures in place prohibiting natural gas bans by local or state jurisdictions.
