When a Consumer Project Safety commissioner suggested in 2023 that the federal government would consider banning gas stoves over safety concerns, it set off fierce nationwide backlash. While the Energy Department finalized stove efficiency standards, they were watered down from the original proposal and no outright ban ever materialized.
No federal ban on gas stoves materialized, but climate advocates seeking to stop consumers from accessing natural gas have tried a number of state and local efforts to achieve their goals – all with similar results as that on the federal level. Despite more recent losses, they’re looking at trying some other strategies.
Voter rejection
Last month, voters in Washington approved a ballot measure to protect consumers’ access to natural gas, and Berkeley, California, voters soundly rejected a measure that would have taxed natural gas emissions in large buildings, with the funds going toward decarbonization programs. Opponents of the measure said the tax would have made natural gas an unaffordable option, and therefore, the measure was a de facto ban.
Despite voter approval, Washington climate advocates are now taking the matter to the court. A conservation group, a solar industry group, the city of Seattle, and King County filed a lawsuit to overturn the Washington measure, arguing that it violates state Constitutional limits on how many subjects can be included in a ballot measure.
Steve Everley, senior managing director at the communications firm FTI Consulting, said in a post on LinkedIn that opponents behind the lawsuit aren’t giving any consideration to the fact that voters in the only state to see an increase in votes for the Democratic presidential candidate rejected the gas ban. […]
— Read More: justthenews.com