Washington Supreme Court Strikes Down Voter-Approved Measure Protecting Natural Gas Access

The Washington Supreme Court has ruled against Initiative 2066, a voter-approved measure aimed at protecting natural gas access in the state. The court's decision, which was unanimous for most of its provisions and split with three justices dissenting, deemed the initiative unconstitutional due to its multiple subjects.

According to Todd Myers, Vice President for Research of Washington Policy Center, the ruling will exacerbate the region's electricity shortage. 'The court's decision makes that situation worse by reducing the flexibility the Pacific Northwest will need to meet demand for electrification and home heating,' he said.

The initiative, which was approved by nearly 2 million voters in 2024 with a 52% to 48% margin, aimed to preserve consumer energy choice. However, environmental organizations opposed its reversal of Washington's building and decarbonization policies, bringing the litigation against it.