Oct. 15, 2024 — Redmond, WA — The City Council voted unanimously 7-0 during its business meeting to adopt Resolution No. 1595, formally opposing Initiative 2066, a Washington state ballot measure for the November 2024 general election that would prohibit state and local governments from discouraging or penalizing natural gas use.
The council’s action, detailed in the official city news release, cited conflicts with Redmond’s climate commitments as the primary reason.
The passage of I-2066 in November would severely impact Redmond’s ability to meet climate commitment goals laid out in the City’s Climate Emergency Declaration, Environmental Sustainability Action Plan, and Community Strategic Plan, as well as meet greenhouse gas reduction goals as laid out in the King County-Cities Climate Collaboration Joint Commitments.
The release specified that programs such as the Energy Smart Eastside heat pump program and the Green Building Program, which incentivize electrification and retrofits, “may not be permitted under the new initiative.”
In 2020, Redmond declared a Climate Emergency and adopted a 30-year Environmental Sustainability Action Plan targeting carbon neutrality for city operations by 2030 and communitywide by 2050, with reducing natural gas usage identified as essential.
Redmond joined King County and other local governments, including Bellingham, Olympia, Sammamish, Vancouver, and Kirkland, in opposing I-2066, according to the No on 2066 campaign.
The resolution was considered under Agenda Item AM No. 24-162, following a public hearing, as noted in meeting minutes.
In a subsequent development, King County Superior Court Judge Sandra Widlan ruled on March 21, 2025, that Initiative 2066 was unconstitutional in its entirety, citing violations of the state constitution, including the single-subject rule, ballot title deficiencies, and improper amendments to existing laws, according to NPI’s Cascadia Advocate.
Derek Wing, city communications manager, was listed as the media contact at dwing@redmond.gov or 425-556-5844.
