Washington State's energy efficiency programs have helped thousands of Washingtonians join the clean energy transition and save money on energy costs. However, these critical incentives are threatened by Initiative 2066 and those who profit from our continued dependence on gas and oil.
Seattle resident Stella Chao loves her home but not its oil-burning furnace. Built in 1917, her house (and all the other houses on her block) was equipped with an oil furnace. Stella had looked into heating alternatives over the years, but all were too expensive to warrant consideration. “We used the heat frugally all winter, often wearing our down sweaters indoors,” Stella said. “We knew burning oil was bad for our air, bad for our health, bad for our ecosystems.”
A few years ago, Stella was able to invest in rooftop solar for her home, cutting her electricity bills and reducing her reliance on heating oil. She eagerly watched and saved her money as the latest generation of electric heat pumps came to market, recognizing that a cleaner heating alternative for her home was within reach. She could soon retire her behemoth oil furnace.
“We were saving up for the project and thought we would need another year to budget for it, but then came the rebates for transitioning and decommissioning our oil furnace and tank,” Stella continues. “It was a no-brainer for us to jump on this opportunity and say goodbye to our behemoth oil furnace.”
Stella is now the proud owner of an electric heat pump system in her home. “We have been surprised at how quickly the house heats up with the new heat pump! It makes us realize how inefficient the oil furnace was. And the heating is much faster and more even than using electric space heaters.” Additionally, because heat pumps can move heat in both directions, Stella’s home now has air conditioning for those hot summer days.
Between several state and local clean energy incentives and heat pump rebate programs, Stella saved over $6,000 by replacing her oil furnace with an electric heat pump. And that's not even counting the federal tax credits. Thousands of Washingtonians like Stella have reaped the benefits of improving their homes' energy efficiency and livability through these programs.
However, clean energy success stories like Stella’s would be endangered if Initiative 2066 passes in Washington, because it’s incentives like these that Initiative 2066 would attack.
What is Initiative 2066?
Initiative 2066 is a sweeping ballot measure that, if enacted, jeopardizes energy efficiency programs and essential customer rebates that save Washingtonians money on their energy bills. Climate Solutions’ analysis shows that I-2066 could increase consumers' annual gas bills by $150 or more in the coming years. It would also prevent towns, cities, and counties from making energy decisions that work best for their communities. That is why local jurisdictions have been passing resolutions opposing this Initiative, citing concerns that it would prohibit them from offering various efficiency programs.
Initiative 2066 is backed by powerful interest groups who stand to profit massively by blocking the clean energy transition’s cost-saving benefits for everyday Washingtonians. Brian Heywood — a multi-millionaire hedge fund manager, a building industry association trying to turn back the clock, fossil fuel corporation NW Natural, and Koch Industries are funding this measure. All these backers have one thing in common: If I-2066 passes, they make more money.
I-2066 is a bad deal for Washington. If passed, it would increase energy costs, threaten the existence of energy efficiency rebates and other programs, strip away local choice and control over energy policy, and Washington would be unnecessarily shackled to an increasingly expensive energy source indefinitely.
Climate Solutions urges you to vote NO on Initiative 2066.
Learn more at https://no2066.org
