Late last week, APGA submitted a letter to members of the Washington House Energy and Environment Committee. Gas utility employees from the cities of Enumclaw and Ellensburg, Wash., who are APGA members, reached out for support and for help pushing back against legislation that would significantly reduce natural gas use in buildings, if not eliminate it outright. To see the latest version of the bill,
click here. The communication submitted by APGA can be found
here.
After APGA’s letter, as well as comments from representatives from Enumclaw and Ellensburg, legislators modified the bill to exempt municipal utilities from the requirements to develop gas transition plans and to seek approval for those plans. As well, while no longer applicable because of the exemption, it is important to note that the language was revised to emphasize the range of options gas utilities have to support the state’s environmental goals. Electrification should not be the only option. Efficiency, renewable natural gas (RNG), hydrogen, district heating, and reducing methane leaks should also be considered critical in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions the state is aiming to achieve.
Similar to the action taken in Washington, if other APGA members think it is appropriate for APGA to engage to help inform policymakers of the importance of public natural gas utilities, please contact APGA staff.
For questions on this article, please contact Stuart Saulters of APGA staff by phone at 202-544-1334 or by email at
ssaulters@apga.org.