{"id":2361525,"date":"2024-10-30T11:18:01","date_gmt":"2024-10-30T15:18:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/initiative-opponents-claim-blocking-natural-gas-ban-will-drive-up-gas-bills-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-10-30T11:28:08","modified_gmt":"2024-10-30T15:28:08","slug":"initiative-opponents-claim-blocking-natural-gas-ban-will-drive-up-gas-bills-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/initiative-opponents-claim-blocking-natural-gas-ban-will-drive-up-gas-bills-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Initiative opponents claim blocking natural gas ban will drive up gas bills &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">30<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Finitiative-opponents-claim-blocking-natural-gas-ban-will-drive-up-gas-bills-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2361525&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article discusses the debate surrounding \u200dInitiative 2066 in Washington state, which aims to maintain natural gas as an\u200b energy choice. Opponents, \u200bparticularly Climate \u200dSolutions, argue that\u200c passing the initiative would lead to increased gas bills for consumers, predicting a rise of\u200c $150 or\u2062 more by\u2062 2035. They\u2063 reference research from Synapse Energy\u2063 Economics that suggests fewer gas customers\u2064 may result in higher costs per user as gas consumption declines and more households switch to \u200belectric appliances.<\/p>\n<p>Conversely,\u2064 supporters of Initiative 2066 claim\u2064 that rejecting the measure could lead to greater energy costs. They assert that passing the initiative is essential \u2062for keeping natural gas a \u200creliable and affordable energy source. \u2063The Building Industry Association \u2063of Washington emphasizes the importance of\u2062 natural gas\u200d in controlling energy prices, citing that electricity costs significantly more than natural gas.<\/p>\n<p>The initiative emerged as a response to House Bill 1589, which\u200c enables \u2064Puget Sound\u2063 Energy to plan for transitioning away \u200cfrom natural gas. Despite the controversy, some utility \u200dproviders,\u200b like Avista Utilities, express support for the choice of energy options, aligning with \u2063the sentiments of both proponents and opponents of the initiative.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Initiative opponents claim blocking natural gas ban will drive up gas bills<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1868236\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>(The Center Square) &ndash; Opponents of&nbsp;Initiative 2066, which aims to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wa-initiative-backers-say-ags-one-sided-language-deceiving-voters-polling-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"WA initiative backers say AG\u2019s \u2018one-sided\u2019 language deceiving voters, polling - Washington Examiner\">ensure natural gas remains<\/a> an energy choice in Washington state, have issued a new report suggesting that if voters pass the measure, gas bills will increase.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Backers of&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www2.sos.wa.gov\/_assets\/elections\/initiatives\/finaltext_3177.pdf\">I-2066<\/a><\/strong>&nbsp;argue the opposite, contending that if voters reject the measure, energy bills will go up.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>In its&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.climatesolutions.org\/sites\/default\/files\/2024-10\/2066-Analysis_Oct-22-24.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>report<\/strong><\/a>, Climate Solutions examined research conducted earlier this year by Synapse Energy Economics, which found that I-2066 could raise consumer utility gas bills in Washington by $150 or more per year by 2035 and double them by 2050.<\/p>\n<p>Climate Solutions&rsquo; argument suggests that with gas use already in decline in the state, and more people choosing electric appliances, that leaves fewer gas customers who will have to <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">pay higher monthly energy bills<\/a> to maintain a gas system.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Allowing natural gas utilities to manage and plan for transition costs effectively will mitigate future risks and costs for natural gas customers,&rdquo;&nbsp;said William Gehrke, senior technical analyst at&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/nwenergy.org\/\">NW Energy Coalition<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biaw.com\/energychoice\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Backers of 2066<\/strong><\/a>&nbsp;say voting to pass I-2066 is the best way to prevent higher energy costs now and in the future.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Opponents of energy choice are desperately spreading misinformation to defeat I-2066 and reduce access to low-cost, reliable natural gas,&rdquo; said Building Industry Association of Washington Executive Vice President Greg Lane. &ldquo;We encourage voters to look at the facts and vote yes on I-2066 to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/november-ballot-will-include-warning-labels-for-initiatives-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"November ballot will include \u2018warning labels\u2019 for initiatives - Washington Examiner\">preserve natural gas<\/a> as a less expensive, more reliable energy choice.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>BIAW notes that according to an Oct. 17&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.govinfo.gov\/content\/pkg\/FR-2024-10-17\/pdf\/2024-23893.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>report<\/strong><\/a>&nbsp;from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, electricity costs more than three times as much as natural gas.<\/p>\n<p>I-2066 is a response to&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/app.leg.wa.gov\/billsummary?BillNumber=1589&amp;Year=2023&amp;Initiative=false\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>House Bill 1589<\/strong><\/a>, which passed this legislative session and was signed into law by Gov. Jay Inslee. It allows Puget Sound Energy, which serves more than 500,000 retail natural gas customers, to start planning how to move away from natural gas.<\/p>\n<p>The Center Square reached out to a few other utility providers in the state for comment on I-2066.<\/p>\n<p>Spokane-based&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.myavista.com\/\">Avista Utilities<\/a><\/strong>&nbsp;serves more than 250,000 customers in eastern Washington. In its four-state service territory, Avista provides electricity to nearly 418,000 customers and natural gas to about 382,000 customers.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We appreciate the intentions and objectives of Initiative 2066,&rdquo; Avista spokesperson Annie Gannon emailed The Center Square. &ldquo;For proponents of this initiative, the freedom to select energy options that align with individual preferences is crucial. We share this sentiment.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Gannon explained the company&rsquo;s reasoning.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Avista remains steadfast in our commitment to actively pursue a reduced-carbon energy future, and Washington and Oregon state laws expect us to achieve significant emission reductions over time,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;We believe it&rsquo;s critical to strike a&nbsp;<em>balance<\/em>&nbsp;between environmental stewardship and maintaining energy delivery that is both affordable and reliable for our customers, particularly in the colder months.&nbsp; Achieving that balance can be difficult if state laws don&rsquo;t provide the necessary flexibility.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>She suggested that a bipartisan energy policy moving forward is the best approach.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Such a policy would ensure our ability to provide customers with dependable and affordable energy into the future while also reducing emissions,&rdquo; Gannon said. &ldquo;Regardless of whether the voters approve or reject I-2066, we look forward to continuing our engagement on this important issue with the legislature and interested stakeholders, always keeping the needs and interests of our customers at the forefront of our approach.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The Center Square also reached out to a few other providers.<\/p>\n<p>Snohomish County PUD declined to comment, saying it doesn&rsquo;t take a position on ballot initiatives, and Tacoma Public Utilities did not respond to a request for comment.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1868236\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1868236\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Opponents of Initiative 2066 claim it will raise gas bills<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2361527,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/AP24014160623172-1-1-1024x683.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[36468,44014,41067,5565],"class_list":["post-2361525","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-energy-policy","tag-gas-bills","tag-natural-gas","tag-regulations"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/AP24014160623172-1-1-1024x683.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2361525","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2361525"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2361525\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2361527"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2361525"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2361525"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2361525"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}