Americans Also Voted to Protect Access to Natural Gas

Mark Green
Posted November 14, 2024

Under-noticed after last week’s election were a couple of clear signs that, even in the bluest of states, Americans don’t take kindly to government trying to mandate and restrict their energy choices. 

In Washington state, voters passed Initiative 2066, requiring the state’s utilities to provide natural gas service to any person or business requesting it.  

Meanwhile, voters in Berkeley, California – the first U.S. city to try to ban natural gas altogether – rejected a proposed tax on using natural gas in new buildings. The measure was seen as a way to discourage natural gas use in new buildings after a 2019 ban passed by the city council was struck down by a federal court. 

Both results align with trends seen in the presidential election. In Michigan, the Biden administration’s rules, effectively pushing Americans toward buying electric vehicles, was an important issue. In Pennsylvania, 62% of those participating in exit interviews said hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” was a key factor in their vote. 

Washington’s Initiative 2066 also bans the state’s Utility and Trade Commission from approving multi-year rate plans that require or incentivize terminating natural gas service. 

Brian Heywood, founder of Let’s Go Washington, which led the fight for approving Initiative 2066: 

“We fought for Washington’s rural communities that couldn’t survive the freezing winters and grid blackouts without natural gas. We fought for small businesses who could not afford to retrofit their buildings to electric. We fought for Washingtonians tired of being forced to comply with policies that make their lives more difficult from a legislature that has proven they aren’t listening to citizens.” 

The initiative also prevents state and local governments and their agencies from banning, restricting, or discouraging natural gas appliances in homes and businesses, like restaurants.  

Berkeley’s proposed natural gas tax received less than one-third of the vote last week. Opponents said businesses and nonprofits would be harmed. Beth Roessner, Berkeley Chamber of Commerce CEO: 

“We believe we ran a really robust campaign meant to educate voters on the true impact of the ordinance, and we’re delighted to see that folks recognize that and saw the impact it was going to have on the arts and nonprofits and they voted accordingly.” 

Alta Bates Summit Medical Center CEO David Clark said before the vote that the natural gas tax would lead to increased operating expenses. “Should the measure pass, retrofitting our existing facilities to eliminate natural gas usage would be cost prohibitive and require major construction,” Clark said. “Any additional financial burden imposed would consequently lead to difficult decisions regarding staffing, resources, and ultimately, may impact patient care.” 

Bottom line: Restricting Americans’ choices for heating and cooking fuels and also appliances is asking for pushback from voters who want to keep affordable, reliable natural gas available for their daily use. State and local officials who’ve tried restricting or banning natural gas should remember that its increased use is the main reason the U.S. has led the world in reducing power-sector carbon dioxide emissions since 2005.