Washington State Residents Vote to Pass Energy Choice Ballot Initiative

On Nov. 5, Washington state residents voted to pass Citizen Ballot Initiative No. 2066 by a roughly 100,000 vote margin. The initiative aims to protect energy choice across the state. 

The National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) has been working with the Pacific Propane Gas Association, the Washington Building Industry Association, and a broad coalition to fight government efforts to ban and limit access to gas hookups and gas appliances through the State Building Codes Council (SBCC). 

NPGA has supported state litigation, is plaintiff to a federal litigation against the SBCC, worked to secure over half a million signatures needed to get No. 2066 on the ballot, and supported voter education to get it across the finish line. By securing a majority of “yes” votes on Nov. 5, the Washington SBCC, air control agencies, and municipal governments within the state can no longer prohibit, penalize, or even discourage the use of gas across the residential or commercial building sectors. Proponents of the ballot measure argue that citizens retain the right to decide for themselves what types of energy best meet their specific needs and unique situations. This has the same impact as “energy choice laws” that leading propane industry groups have worked to get on the books in 26 other states. 

Even-handed emissions calculations, cost, and resilience all play roles in the choices consumers make.

A version of this story originally ran in NPGA’s The Bobtail newsletter.