House Energy & Environment panel advances bill to label gas stoves, 9-4

The House Energy & Environment Committee voted 9 to 4 to advance House Bill 11 61, which would require a label on gas cooking appliances advising users to “vent to the exterior when in use,” sending the measure to the committee of the whole.

Sponsor Representative Joseline Valdez told the committee the measure is narrow and purely informational. “This bill is a very simple bill...it places a label ‘ventilated to the exterior when in use,’” she said, calling the label a reminder to “turn on their fan.”

The bill drew pro and con testimony. Gail Nordheim of Denver, who testified in support, said studies link gas-stove emissions to respiratory and cardiovascular problems and argued the label could increase use of ventilation and reduce indoor pollution. “Gas stoves are associated with numerous adverse health effects in both children and adults,” Nordheim said. Jan Rose of the Colorado Coalition for a Livable Climate, a statewide environmental coalition, told the committee the measure simply “reminds people to use ventilation when…