On September 17, six members of the Washington Supreme Court voted to strike down Initiative 2066, a measure that nearly two million Washington voters approved to preserve the right to heat homes with natural gas. The ruling clears the way for statewide policies that could push Clark County residents toward costly all‑electric retrofits.
Local impact on Clark County households
Clark County families rely on natural gas for heating, cooking, and hot water. Northwest Natural supplies gas to roughly 78,000 households in the area, including neighborhoods in Camas, Vancouver, Battle Ground, Ridgefield and Washougal. The court’s decision does not immediately remove furnaces, but it removes the legal shield that protected gas use, allowing local codes, utilities and regulators to impose restrictions or penalties on gas appliances.
Industry estimates from the Building Industry Association of Washington (BIAW) place the cost of converting an existing gas home to all‑electric at about $40,000 when accounting for a new furnace, water heater, range, electrical panel and wiring. Contractor guides for the region list a range of $18,000 to $38,000 for whole‑home electrification, with ducted heat‑pump systems alone costing $12,000 to $18,000. Even with available rebates, many working families in Fern Prairie, Fishers Landing and surrounding communities cannot absorb a five‑figure expense.
Why the decision matters
Initiative 2066 represented a direct expression of voter intent to keep natural gas as a viable energy source. By erasing the initiative in its entirety, the majority opinion prioritizes a climate‑policy agenda over the democratic will of Washingtonians. Critics, including BIAW’s Greg Lane and the Washington Policy Center’s Todd Myers, argue the court found a narrow technical justification to overturn the popular vote.
Three justices—Salvador Munguia, Charles Johnson and Cheryl Gordon‑McLeod—would have trimmed the problematic sections of the initiative while preserving its core purpose. Their dissent underscores the tension between judicial activism and constitutional fidelity.
Upcoming Supreme Court elections
The ruling arrives as five of the nine seats on the Washington Supreme Court will appear on the November ballot, the first such opportunity in a generation. Voters will decide who fills positions one, three, four, five and seven. Candidates highlighted by the opinion column include:
- Dave Larson, Federal Way Municipal Judge (position 5)
- Sean O’Donnell, King County Superior Court Judge (position 4)
- Scott Edwards, challenger to appointee Colleen Melody Stevens (position 1)
- David Stevens, former Mason County judge (position 3)
Chief Justice Deborah Stevens authored the majority opinion that struck down I‑2066. Voters are urged to examine each candidate’s stance on respecting voter‑approved initiatives and applying the Constitution as written.
What Clark County residents can do
Homeowners should monitor local building codes and utility policies for any new restrictions on gas appliances. Engaging with the upcoming Supreme Court election offers a direct avenue to influence how future initiatives are treated by the judiciary. Reading the voter pamphlet and assessing each candidate’s commitment to upholding the people’s will are essential steps for preserving energy choice and protecting family budgets.
Original reporting: Clark County Today (Vancouver WA) — read the source article.
