(The Center Square) – With just over two weeks until Initiative 2066 takes effect in Washington state, the Building Industry Association of Washington is urging the Washington State Building Code Council to take immediate action to bring the state’s energy codes into compliance.
I-2066, which aims to expand natural gas in the state, was approved by voters during the general election a little over two weeks ago and is set to become law on Dec. 5.
“I-2066 invalidates parts of the 2021 Washington State Energy Code (WSEC) that discourage and penalize the use of natural gas in home heating and water systems,” a BIAW news release said.
A Nov. 13 letter to the SBCC from BIAW outlined two solutions for SBCC.
“Revert to the 2015 WSEC, the last legal code iteration where natural gas heating was not penalized or discouraged – or adopt the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) via emergency rulemaking, ensuring compliance through amendments that provide a legal performance pathway for natural gas systems,” the letter read.