Washington State Ballot Measure Seeks to Repeal Natural Gas Phase-Out, Vote in November

May 17, 2024, 07:59 PM

Signature gathering has begun for a Washington state ballot measure to repeal the natural gas phase-out. The initiative, backed by Let’s Go Washington and the Building Industry Association of Washington, aims to challenge portions of a controversial decarbonization bill passed this year. A court challenge over the title of the initiative has ended after a hearing on Wednesday. If successful, Washington voters could decide in November whether utilities and local governments must provide natural gas to eligible customers and whether to curtail regulations of its use. The measure follows a Ninth Circuit ruling that forced the state to revisit regulations on natural gas appliances used in new construction, which some claim are still out of step with federal law.