TELL THEM TO OPPOSE SHB 1770 – WHICH WILL MAKE WASHINGTON STATE’S ENERGY CODE EVEN MORE EXPENSIVE AND DIFFICULT.
The Washington State House of Representatives is poised to take a vote on SHB 1770 – strengthening energy codes. This bill makes significant changes to the existing state energy code. It changes the goal from one of “energy efficiency” to greenhouse gas emission reductions. This will force all new residential buildings to full electrification – regardless of whether or not non-electric appliances would be more affordable and energy-efficient. It also creates a “reach” or “stretch” code that local governments could adopt – which would be more stringent and restrictive than the state energy code.
Why OPPOSE SHB 1770:
- It would be devastating to housing affordability in Washington State – increasing the cost of building a home by thousands of dollars – particularly if homes are required to be “net zero ready” or “solar ready” as is demanded by this bill.
- It would encourage the banning of natural gas connections – particularly through the local reach code – putting millions of Washingtonians at risk when power outages occur because they would not have a secondary heating or cooking resource and reducing the ability to choose the most efficient, affordable energy source for their home.
- It exacerbates the labor shortage. Requiring builders to make all houses “net zero ready” and to be “solar ready” will require more electricians than are available now. In addition, current laws actually keep specialty electricians from doing some of the needed work which means fewer available workers, more delays and more cost.
- It exacerbates the supply chain issue – Washington state builders and contractors are already limited in what they can use in residential construction because of our existing strict energy code (which just went into effect during the pandemic). This would put even more product out of reach for Washington builders – -increasing costs and delays and disrupting attempts to build affordable housing.
LEGISLATORS NEED TO SET THIS BILL DOWN. OUR CURRENT STATE ENERGY CODE ALREADY IS WORKING TOWARD VERY STRINGENT GOALS THAT WILL HELP CLIMATE CHANGE. LET THE CURRENT PROCESS WORK AND DO NOT ADD NEW GOALS OR REQUIREMENTS THAT INCREASE THE COST OF HOUSING, LEAD TO BANS ON NATURAL GAS, AND EXACERBATE THE SUPPLY CHAIN! WASHINGTON CITIZENS CAN NOT AFFORD THIS BILL!
CONTACT YOUR TWO STATE REPRESENTATIVES TODAY! TELL THEM TO VOTE NO ON SHB 1770 TO PRESERVE JOBS AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING!
To Contact your Two-State Reps – follow this link to FIND YOUR DISTRICT and identify your two representatives. Then go to this link to FIND THEIR EMAIL AND PHONE NUMBER so you can contact them directly.
