Washington state ruling shows why we need the Energy Choice Act

Posted on:

September 30, 2026

In 2024, Washington voters approved Initiative 2066. This was a ballot measure intended to protect access to natural gas in homes and businesses. On September 17, the Washington Supreme Court struck it down, affirming a lower court’s decision. The court ruled that the initiative violated the state constitution’s single-subject requirement and could not be preserved by removing individual provisions.

The ruling turns on how the initiative was written, but its practical effect is clear: the protections Washington voters approved are not in place. Families and businesses in Washington face the threat of policies that restrict their energy options. For HVACR contractors, those policies can also limit the systems they are able to install to meet their customers’ needs.

This development makes federal action more urgent. The Energy Choice Act (H.R. 3699/S. 1945) would prevent state and local governments from restricting access to energy services based on the type or source of energy delivered. ACCA supports the legislation because consumers should be able to choose the heating and cooling options that work best for them.

Last week, ACCA Vice President of Government Relations Sean Robertson and Director of Government Relations & Advocacy Chris Czarnecki were on Capitol Hill to meet with House Energy and Commerce Committee staff and Congressman Randy Weber’s office to discuss this issue as well as energy efficiency standards reform. Congressman Weber is a former HVACR contractor and ACCA member. He also serves on the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Pictured: Sean Robertson and Chris Czarnecki with Liam Regan of Congressman Weber’s office.

You can do your part by telling your members of Congress to support the Energy Choice Act.