BELLINGHAM — The sponsors of Initiative-2066, the Washington ballot measure that aims to expand access to natural gas in the state, have declared victory as votes have continued to trickle in from last week’s election.
Early results showed the ballot measure holding a slim lead, which has slowly grown in the days since the election. As of Monday, Nov. 11, there are 51.64% of votes counted in favor of the measure, compared to 48.36% against it, according to the Secretary of State’s office. With approximately 274,171 votes left to be counted, I-2066 leads by a 112,203 vote margin. In order for the measure to fail, over 70% of the remaining votes would need to go against the initiative, leaving it all-but-guaranteed of a victory.
Let’s Go Washington, the conservative political action committee behind the four measures on the ballot across the state in the November 2024 general election, already started claiming victory last week.
“We are celebrating I-2066 being approved by voters alongside the 533,005 Washingtonians who signed their name to protect energy choice in our state,” Let’s Go Washington founder Brian Heywood stated in a press release on Thursday, Nov. 7.
Results won’t be official until they’re certified by Washington’s 39 counties on Nov. 26 in and are sent to the Secretary of State, who has to certify them by Dec. 5.
The initiative targets a 2024 law that stops electric utility companies, primarily Puget Sound Energy, from incentivizing the use of natural gas. Under the law, PSE isn’t allowed to offer customers rebates for installing gas-powered appliances. It’s also required to inform customers of any incentives available for installing electric appliances.
I-2066 reverses those two regulations, while also prohibiting Puget Sound Energy from offering any plan that restricts a customer’s access to natural gas. Under the measure, PSE and local utility services have to offer gas power as an option to customers who request it. Additionally, it prevents local governments from implementing laws that prohibit or discourage the use of natural gas.
“The legislature’s decision to eliminate natural gas as an energy source was clear overreach,” Heywood stated “We fought for Washington’s rural communities that couldn’t survive the freezing winters and grid blackouts without natural gas. We fought for small businesses who could not afford to retrofit their buildings to electric. We fought for Washingtonians tired of being forced to comply with policies that make their lives more difficult from a legislature that has proven they aren’t listening to citizens.”
The measure’s opponents claim that it rolls back necessary climate protections, while running up costs in the long run by forcing utility companies to maintain natural gas services, which are less efficient than sustainable alternatives.
“Energy bills are a huge financial strain for working families in Washington,” Molly Gallagher, communications coordinator at the Statewide Poverty Action Network stated in a press release from the measure’s opposition late on Friday, Nov. 8, the No on I-2066 campaign. “If it is allowed to stand, I-2066 would guarantee higher energy costs in the coming years by rolling back tools that help utilities plan for the future. This poorly written initiative would have a host of consequences for energy affordability, clean air and the climate.”
You can read the full text of the initiative on the Secretary of State’s website.
- Legal challenges for I-2066?
No on I-2066 has conceded the race, although it’s exploring possible legal challenges to the measure. The campaign claims that I-2066 is misleading, since it implies that Washington has a natural gas ban in place when it doesn’t. Additionally, the campaign said it’s looking into the possibility that the measure violates a section of the state constitution that asserts that “no bill shall embrace more than one subject.”
“Despite millions of dollars of spending and a concerted effort to mislead the public about its impacts, this initiative barely garnered majority support. Our campaign is exploring all of its legal options to ensure special interests aren’t allowed to abuse the initiative process and undermine Washington’s clean energy future,” Caitlin Krenn, climate and clean energy director at Washington Conservation Action, stated in the press release.
