<body><div> When you’re living on a fixed income, getting new energy-efficient home appliances is a game changer — greatly reducing energy bills that pose a huge financial burden every month. A misleading initiative on your November ballot would threaten programs across the state that are helping our neighbors living on lower incomes realize these benefits. That’s one of the many reasons that a broad coalition of civic groups across the state — from labor unions to doctors to building professionals — are urging a no vote on I-2066. <nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate> While the ultrawealthy special interests backing this measure are pitching it to voters as a simple issue of “energy choice,” in reality I-2066 would actually reduce energy options for Washington residents and increase the cost of living. It would undermine a host of commonsense protections across the state — from money-saving energy efficiency programs to the state’s Clean Air Act. As a small business advancing climate resiliency and an organization advocating for poverty reduction policy statewide, we know just how important energy efficiency is. Energy efficiency programs benefit everyone, and are particularly important for people living on fixed and lower incomes. And the cleanest form of energy is the energy saved by switching to more efficient appliances in our homes and buildings. <nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate> I-2066 would raise people’s energy bills in a variety of ways. It would gut commonsense building codes that encourage the construction of new homes with heat pumps — the most energy-efficient source of home heating on the market. Heat pumps use <a href="https://www.iea.org/reports/the-future-of-heat-pumps/how-a-heat-pump-works" rel="follow nofollow" target="_blank"> less than a third of the energy </a> of the typical gas furnace while doubling as air conditioners and air purifiers — increasingly important amid increasing summer heat waves and wildfire smoke. Without that built-in heating and cooling, future renters and homeowners may need to spend out-of-pocket to add air conditioning to their homes as the planet warms. I-2066 would also roll back a state law that helps <a href="https://www.pse.com/en/press-release/details/Facts-about-HB-1589" rel="follow nofollow" target="_blank"> Puget Sound Energy </a> , the state’s largest utility, plan for the future by considering their gas and electric systems together. Puget Sound Energy reports that gas use is declining — down 7% for residential and 3% for commercial customers in 2023. As more and more people switch from gas to electric appliances, it means higher and higher costs to maintain the gas system. Without proactive planning, those costs will fall hardest on people with lower or fixed incomes. <nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate> I-2066 is an attack on local control of energy policy. It would impose a “one size fits all” energy policy across the state, limiting the ability of local leaders at the city and county level to make decisions about their communities’ energy future. I-2066’s prohibition on electric incentives would threaten recently passed clean energy plans in <a href="https://medium.com/kingcounty/king-county-helping-families-switch-to-clean-energy-cut-utility-costs-through-heat-pump-88f686fc4d35" rel="follow nofollow" target="_blank"> King County </a> and cities like <a href="https://static.spokanecity.org/documents/bcc/committees/public-infrastructure-environment-sustainability/sustainability-action-subcommittee/spokane-sustainability-action-plan-final-adopted-oct-25-2021.pdf" rel="follow nofollow" target="_blank"> Spokane </a> , <a href="https://www.smartcitiesdive.com/news/seattle-building-emissions-performance-standard-climate-policy/702404/" rel="follow nofollow" target="_blank"> Seattle </a> , <a href="https://www.climatesolutions.org/article/2021-12/shoreline-wins-clean-buildings" rel="follow nofollow" target="_self"> Shoreline </a> , <a href="https://stand.earth/press-releases/bellingham-becomes-third-washington-state-city-to-eliminate-fossil-fuels-from-new-commercial-and-large-multifamily-buildings/" rel="follow nofollow" target="_blank"> Bellingham </a> , <a href="https://www.cityoftacoma.org/UserFiles/Servers/Server_6/File/ES/Tacoma%20Community%20Building%20Decarbonization%20Strategy_FINAL.pdf" rel="follow nofollow" target="_blank"> Tacoma </a> and <a href="https://engage.olympiawa.gov/building-electrification" rel="follow nofollow" target="_blank"> Olympia </a> . The fine print of I-2066 also has far-reaching changes to state law that would forbid clean air agencies from addressing gas pollution that comes from buildings — including industrial facilities. With the U.S. Supreme Court <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/27/politics/epa-ohio-smog-supreme-court/index.html" rel="follow nofollow" target="_blank"> actively weakening the federal Clean Air Act </a> , now is not the time to undermine our state’s clean air protections. <nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate> Why is this measure on your November ballot? Signature gathering was bankrolled by special interest groups and Brian Heywood, a single wealthy hedge fund manager. The effort is being supported financially by fossil fuel companies and actors like the Koch Brothers. I-2066 is just the latest chapter in a nationwide effort by the fossil fuel industry to attack energy efficiency measures that keep energy bills low and reduce the demand for fossil fuels. Washington voters know better. Energy efficiency is popular across the state, no matter where you fall on the political spectrum. Please join the growing coalition of Washingtonians in voting No on I-2066 in November. <nbtemplate data-content="eyJhcGlLZXkiOiAiZDgxM2Q5Yzg3NTI3N2IzNWU0YzRmZDM0NTAyMjJkNmQiLCAiZGVzY3JpcHRpb24iOiAiR2V0IFROVCBEaW5lciIsICJldmVudCI6ICJtcF9zdWJzY3JpcHRpb25fYnV0dG9uX2NsaWNrX2V2ZW50IiwgInVybCI6ICJodHRwczovL3QubmV3cy50aGVuZXdzdHJpYnVuZS5jb20vd2ViQXBwL21jY1NpZ25VcD9uZXdzbGV0dGVyPXRoZW5ld3N0cmlidW5lX3RhY29tYV90bnRkaW5lcl9uZXdzbGV0dGVyIiwgIm1lZGlhSWQiOiAxNTkyNTgxLCAidGl0bGUiOiAiVGhpcyBpbml0aWF0aXZlLCBwdXNoZWQgYnkgdGhlIHdlYWx0aHkgd2lsbCBtZWFuIGhpZ2hlciBlbmVyZ3kgYmlsbHMgZm9yIFdhc2hpbmd0b24gfCBPcGluaW9uIn0=" data-id="MediaPlatformAmplitudeButton"></nbtemplate> Kara Odegard is the founding partner at Measure Meant, a Spokane-based small business that supports cities, tribes and businesses with their sustainability and climate resiliency planning. Lianna Kressin is the interim executive director and Basic Needs Campaign lead at the Statewide Poverty Action Network, a statewide advocacy organization that advocates for poverty reduction policy in the Washington State Legislature. <nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate></div></body>

Mountain View, CA

“While the ultrawealthy special interests backing this measure are pitching it to voters as a simple issue of ‘energy choice,’ in reality I-2066 would actually reduce energy options for Washington residents and increase the cost of living.” | Opinion