{"id":2406317,"date":"2025-02-25T08:35:59","date_gmt":"2025-02-25T13:35:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biaw-refiles-suit-requiring-state-building-code-council-to-follow-natural-gas-law-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-02-25T08:39:53","modified_gmt":"2025-02-25T13:39:53","slug":"biaw-refiles-suit-requiring-state-building-code-council-to-follow-natural-gas-law-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biaw-refiles-suit-requiring-state-building-code-council-to-follow-natural-gas-law-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"BIAW refiles suit requiring state building code council to follow natural gas law &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">32<\/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%2Fbiaw-refiles-suit-requiring-state-building-code-council-to-follow-natural-gas-law-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=2406317&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 Building Industry\u200d Association of \u200cWashington (BIAW) has refiled a\u200c lawsuit against\u2062 the Washington state Building Code \u200dCouncil (SBCC) \u200bdue too delays in updating\u2063 the \u2064state&#8217;s \u200denergy code \u200cto comply with Initiative 2066.\u2063 Passed \u2063by voters\u200c in \u2062November,this initiative mandates that \u200dutilities maintain \u2064natural gas services. The BIAW&#8217;s latest lawsuit, filed in Thurston County Superior\u2064 Court,\u2062 calls for the SBCC to initiate emergency rulemaking to ensure compliance. the\u200c previous\u2063 lawsuit was dismissed as of procedural issues. BIAW argues that \u2064the SBCC&#8217;s failure \u2064to\u200c update \u200dthe codes is irresponsible, as the \u200dcurrent codes discourage the \u2062use of natural gas, which BIAW claims is illegal.<\/p>\n<p>Despite the SBCC&#8217;s acknowledgment \u2063of\u200d confusion \u200dregarding \u200cI-2066 and energy codes, BIAW \u200dargues that the council \u2062is neglecting it&#8217;s duty to adapt \u2062the \u200dcodes per the \u200dlaw. The lawsuit highlights a growing conflict over energy efficiency and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/eu-asks-countries-to-significantly-cut-natural-gas-consumption-until-next-year\/\" title=\"EU Asks Countries to Significantly Cut ... Consumption Until Next Year\">natural gas usage<\/a> in\u2063 Washington, with local governments\u200c attempting to adjust their codes to align with the \u2063initiative.There is also an ongoing\u2062 constitutional challenge to I-2066 set for a hearing, with opponents asserting it violates \u2062the\u200b state constitution. Meanwhile, the\u200c Washington Department of \u2062Ecology has withdrawn support for a bill regulating wood-burning \u200bstoves, deemed\u2062 unneeded and\u200b costly.  <\/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\">BIAW refiles suit requiring state building code council to follow natural gas law<\/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_2018463\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>(The Center Square) &ndash; The Building Industry Association of Washington has refiled its&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/cdn.prod.website-files.com\/65565b1bdfa204c7e86303ad\/67b9279858e8d4669678e568_APA%20Challenge.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>lawsuit<\/strong><\/a>&nbsp;against the Washington State Building Code Council over delays in updating the state&rsquo;s energy code to align with&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www2.sos.wa.gov\/_assets\/elections\/initiatives\/finaltext_3177.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Initiative 2066,<\/strong><\/a>&nbsp;passed by voters in November, which ensures the state&rsquo;s utilities continue to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/washington-natural-gas-initiative-backer-files-suit-to-force-state-to-comply-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"... ... initiative backer files ... to force state to comply - ... Examiner\">provide natural gas service<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>The lawsuit, filed Friday in Thurston County Superior Court, asks the court to require the SBCC to initiate emergency rulemaking to speed compliance.<\/p>\n<p>As&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecentersquare.com\/washington\/article_877e2278-eb19-11ef-b106-0fec337e278c.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>reported<\/strong><\/a>&nbsp;by The Center Square earlier this month, Thurston County Superior Court Judge John&nbsp;Skinder sided with the state&rsquo;s motion to dismiss BIAW&rsquo;s first lawsuit over the manner in which the case was filed.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>BIAW has now refiled under the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/app.leg.wa.gov\/rcw\/default.aspx?cite=34.05\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Administrative Procedures Act.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The same day BIAW was refiling its suit, the SBCC was meeting and issued a&nbsp;draft&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/sbcc.wa.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/2025-02\/I-2066%20Web%20Statement.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>statement<\/strong><\/a>&nbsp;about I-2066: &ldquo;There has been confusion over the WA energy codes and the passage of I-2066, and whether the codes should be enforced. The Council is investigating changes necessary to bring the codes into compliance with the requirements under I-2066 and all other relevant laws. Until such time as the Council adopts any changes, the current 2021 codes will remain in place.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>BIAW contends SBCC is required to speed up code changes.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It is irresponsible and a dereliction of duty for the council not to be taking immediate action to bring the energy codes into compliance with the law. We shouldn&rsquo;t have to be going to court to force the council to follow the law,&rdquo; BIAW Executive Vice President Greg Lane said in a news release.<\/p>\n<p>Lane said the current codes, disincentivizing the use of natural gas are illegal, and the council should be working to comply with the law.<\/p>\n<p>BIAW&nbsp;Managing Director of External Affairs&nbsp;Jan Himebaugh spoke with The Center Square Monday about the ongoing dispute with SBCC.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve asked them multiple times since the initiative was passed to come into compliance and they continue to deny, so now we are in an Administrative Procedures Act challenge because they really just do not want to enforce the law and the will of the voters,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s offensive and should be offensive to the people of Washington.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Himebaugh said BIAW is confident there is no conflict when it comes to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-administrations-lightbulb-ban\/\" title=\"Biden administration\u2019s lightbulb ban\">energy efficiency rules<\/a> in state law.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;You cannot do that by banning or discouraging or penalizing the use of natural gas, and they just don&rsquo;t want to admit that because they just want 100% carbon reduction, and that&rsquo;s all they care about,&rdquo; she continued. &ldquo;They have tried to conflate the term energy efficiency with carbon neutrality and those are not the same thing.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>She noted some local governments are working to comply with I-2066.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Some local governments have taken the right approach, and they&rsquo;re adjusting energy code so you can use natural gas and not have to pay $20,000 to $40,000 extra to use natural gas,&rdquo; Himebaugh explained. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s what the 2021 energy code does. It adds tens of thousands of dollars to the cost of construction and the cost of a home if you want to use natural gas.&nbsp;The people of Washington have said, do not disincentive the use of natural gas.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>A constitutional&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.biaw.com\/news\/builders-denounce-recent-lawsuit-to-block-initiative-2066\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>challenge<\/strong><\/a>&nbsp;to I-2066 is set to be argued in King County Superior Court on March 21.<\/p>\n<p>A coalition of environmental and climate groups contend I-2066 violates the state constitution.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;First and foremost, it violates the requirement that an initiative can concern only a single subject because it impermissibly includes several short-term items that make immediate changes and other changes are broad and long-term &ndash; all in violation of the Constitution,&rdquo; plaintiff representative Kai Smith with Pacifica Law Group told&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.climatesolutions.org\/article\/2024-12\/broad-coalition-challenges-i-2066-unconstitutional\">Climate Solutions<\/a><\/strong>&nbsp;late last year. &ldquo;I-2066 also violates the separate subject-in-title requirement of the Washington Constitution.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Himebaugh told The Center Square BIAW is confident I-2066 does not violate the single-subject rule and will hold up.<\/p>\n<p>The state Attorney General&rsquo;s Office is defending the measure.<\/p>\n<p>Meantime, the WA Department of Ecology has backed off support for a bill&nbsp;to <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">regulate wood-burning stoves sold<\/a> in Washington state.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Sen. Shelly Short, R-Addy told The Center Square SB 5174 would have been extremely costly and duplicate woodstove emissions standards already required by the Environmental Protection Agency.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s great news they are backing off of that and the bill is dead for this session,&rdquo; said Short. &ldquo;Since I have been in the legislature, this is a topic that continually comes up. I feel like they just want to get rid of our stoves. They&rsquo;ll tell you they don&rsquo;t, but I&rsquo;ve been following this since 2010 and it keeps coming up.&rdquo;<\/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_2018463\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2018463\"}});<\/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>BIAW refiles lawsuit for state building code council to comply with natural gas law<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2406318,"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\/AP24014160536170-1024x683.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[51029,4585,51031,51030,32076],"class_list":["post-2406317","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-biaw","tag-lawsuit","tag-natural-gas-law","tag-state-building-code","tag-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/AP24014160536170-1024x683.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2406317","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=2406317"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2406317\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2406321,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2406317\/revisions\/2406321"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2406318"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2406317"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2406317"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2406317"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}