Northwest Gas Association Statement on Washington Supreme Court's Initiative 2066 Ruling
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Northwest Gas Association Statement on Washington Supreme Court's Initiative 2066 Ruling
NWGA reaffirms commitment to reliable, affordable, diversified energy for the Pacific Northwest
OREGON CITY, Ore. — September 18, 2026 — The Northwest Gas Association (NWGA) today issued the following statement after the Washington State Supreme Court ruled that Initiative 2066 is unconstitutional, affirming a King County Superior Court decision that found the measure violated the state constitution's single-subject and related procedural requirements.
"We understand the Court's role interpreting the constitutional requirements that apply to every citizen initiative, with this ruling turning on process, not on the merits of natural gas as an energy source," said Kelly Fukai, President and CEO of NWGA. "Nearly 2 million Washington voters supported the underlying goal of I-2066: preserving access to affordable natural gas for their homes and businesses. That message hasn't changed, and neither has our commitment to it."
Fukai emphasized that today's ruling does not diminish the essential role natural gas plays in the region's energy system. NWGA has consistently pointed to the value of energy diversity — pairing electric and gas systems rather than treating them as competitors — as key to regional reliability, particularly during high-demand winter events like the January 2024 cold snap, when direct-use natural gas and dual-fuel systems helped relieve pressure on the electric grid.
"The need for reliability and affordability doesn't take a break because of a court ruling," Fukai said. "Our region's utilities, gas and electric alike, still have to keep the system running through every heat wave and cold snap. NWGA will keep making the case — to legislators, regulators, and the public — that consumer choice and a diversified energy mix are what keep bills affordable and the lights and furnaces on when it matters most."
NWGA said it will continue working with state legislators, regulators, and its utility and pipeline members to pursue policy avenues that protect energy choice and support continued investment in safe, reliable natural gas infrastructure across Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia, regardless of the initiative's outcome in court.
Fukai was clear that today's ruling does not alter NWGA's support for reducing emissions across the region's energy system. "Our members are investing in renewable natural gas, hydrogen blending, and efficiency programs today, because a lower-carbon future is a shared goal," she said. "Where we'll keep pushing back is on approaches that force an accelerated, one-size-fits-all conversion onto ratepayers who can least afford it. Decarbonization has to move at a pace people can actually pay for — otherwise we're not solving the problem, we're just shifting the cost onto Washington families and small businesses."
"This isn't the end of the conversation about energy choice in Washington — it's the next chapter," Fukai added. "We'll stay at the table, working in good faith with everyone who shares the goal of a reliable, affordable energy future for this region."
About the Northwest Gas Association
The Northwest Gas Association is the bi-national trade organization representing the Pacific Northwest's natural gas industry. Its members include six natural gas distribution utilities — Avista Utilities, Cascade Natural Gas Corporation, FortisBC Energy Inc., Intermountain Gas Company, NW Natural, and Puget Sound Energy — and three natural gas transmission pipelines — Enbridge, TC Energy, and Williams-Northwest Pipeline — that together serve millions of homes and businesses throughout Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. NWGA advocates for the role of the region's gas infrastructure in safely delivering a clean, dependable, and affordable energy future. Learn more at nwga.org.
Media Contact:
D. Scott Peterson
m (503) 236-8776
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