The Washington State Legislature has passed a bill that would effectively eliminate the use of natural gas in new buildings as part of a larger effort toward full electrification in an “equitable” manner.
On Tuesday, the Democratic-controlled House passed HB1589, also known as the Washington Decarbonization for Large Complex Utilities Act. The bill would require businesses that serve at least 500,000 natural gas customers to apply to commercial businesses that did not receive natural gas service or applied for natural gas service by June 30 of last year. or prohibits the provision of natural gas service to residential buildings.
Although the bill technically addresses all of these large natural gas companies, it would primarily affect them. puget acoustic energyAccording to the company, the company serves more than 900,000 natural gas and 1.2 million electric customers. Website. If HB1589 is signed into law, PSEs will no longer be required to provide natural gas to existing customers, as required by current state law. report Claim.
One of the provisions of this bill requires it to take effect immediately. It also created exceptions for medical facilities, correctional facilities and some manufacturing facilities.
A previous bill failed to pass last year, but this year HB1589 easily passed 52-45 largely along party lines. A few Democrats voted no, but no Republicans voted yes.
According to the official residence report, the purpose of this bill is to promote so-called “decarbonization” to mitigate the effects of climate change. In theory, it would support other states' actions, such as the Clean Energy Transition Act and the Climate Change Act, to achieve “aggressive decarbonization goals for gas and electric utilities.”
Saving the climate may not be the only goal of HB1589, however. Supporters of the bill boasted that it would provide a form of restorative justice, keeping in mind the disproportionate impact of climate change on “low-income and BIPOC communities.” A summary opinion included in the House's official report states that “it was once thought that if everyone had the same interest rate, it was fair,” but that “some past assumptions… are being reconsidered and a fairer way of approaching interest rates is being sought.'' “
HB1589 would require gas companies like PSE to “fairly share the benefits and burdens of electrification and decarbonization,” the summary proudly claims.
Opponents argued that the measure would likely lead to higher utility bills for consumers, especially during times of unusually high consumption rates. Early this month, PSE asked customers to lower their thermostats and reduce hot water usage, fearing that the unseasonably cold weather would put an “undue strain on the power grid.”
“It's been less than two weeks since thousands of Washington families battled harsh winter weather and PSE asked them to curtail energy use to reduce strain on the grid. Home heating and water supply Eliminating natural gas as a source of electricity will disrupt the power grid and fail,” Greg Lane, executive vice president of the Washington Construction Industry Association, said in a statement.
Still, some argued that with small changes, the bill “could provide a national model for transitioning utilities to electricity.”
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