The contentious Initiative 2066, aimed at pushing back on Washington's natural gas regulations, has hit a significant roadblock following a King County Superior Court judge's decision. Judge Sandra Widlan has struck down the initiative, deeming it a violation of the state's constitution on multiple fronts. The measure, which narrowly passed by 3.4%, was challenged by Climate Solutions and other advocacy groups as a sweeping piece of legislation that comprised multiple subjects not clearly expressed in its title.
In a statement obtained by MyNorthwest, Climate Solutions outlined the issue at hand, arguing that "I-2066 combines one seemingly popular subject with a host of separate subjects," a practice known as logrolling, and therefore it failed to adhere to the single-subject rule enshrined in Article II, Section 19 of the Washington Constitution. According to NW Progressive, Widlan's ruling emphasized that individual provisions within the initiative, such as requiring cities to provide natural gas while limiting agencies' ability to regulate air pollutants from natural gas, were "unrelated and not germane to one another."
The decision has prompted a mixed response. On one hand, Christina Wong from Washington Conservation Actions celebrated the ruling, stating to KOMO News, "This is an incredible win for the people in Washington." On the other, proponents of the initiative, spearheaded by the Building Industry Association of Washington (BIAW), have expressed their intent to appeal to the state Supreme Court, with BIAW claiming in a MyNorthwest interview, "Today’s decision was based solely on the policy preference of the judge and had no legal basis whatsoever."
As a result of Judge Widlan's ruling, utility companies such as Puget Sound Energy will continue to offer natural gas to customers who request it but are barred from promoting its use with rebates or incentives favoring gas over electric appliances. Echoing the sentiments of proponents for energy diversity, BIAW wrote in a statement, "We will not back away from the fight to ensure the will of the people who voted to make I-2066 law stands." In contrast, opponents like Climate Solutions view the peel back of Initiative 2066 as a critical step toward untethering Washington's homes and businesses from methane gas—a fuel they argue exacerbates the climate crisis.
