A King County Superior Court judge has overturned I-2066, a voter-approved measure aimed at preserving natural gas access in Washington. Judge Sandra Widlan ruled that the initiative violated the state’s single-subject rule and failed to fully outline changes to existing laws, making it unconstitutional.
I-2066 sought to prevent local and state restrictions on natural gas by undoing recent energy code updates and repealing provisions of HB 1589, which supports Puget Sound Energy’s transition away from natural gas. The measure also mandated continued natural gas access for customers.
Opponents, including Climate Solutions and Washington Conservation Action, argued that the initiative improperly combined unrelated issues, a tactic known as “logrolling.” Environmental advocates hailed the ruling as a victory for clean energy, while initiative supporters, including the Building Industry Association of Washington (BIAW), vowed to appeal to the state Supreme Court.
With the court’s decision, the legal battle over natural gas access is far from over.
