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Advisory group forms subcommittee to revise building-and-energy policies after Initiative 2066 guidance
Summary
Advisory members volunteered for a small working group to review county building-and-energy policy language after staff receives state guidance on Initiative 2066; the group will meet in early February and bring proposals back to the full group.
Clark County staff told the advisory group they will delay further work on building-and-energy policies until they receive implementation guidance from the Washington State Department of Commerce about Initiative 2066, the November 2024 ballot measure addressing local restrictions on natural-gas use.
“Initiative 2066 says, ‘a county shall not in any way prohibit, penalize, or discourage the use of gas for any form of heating or for uses related to any appliance or equipment in any building,’” project staff summarized, and added that some draft building-and-energy policies will likely need rewording to remain consistent with current law. Staff also said there are pending lawsuits challenging the initiative and that the county will proceed under existing law while awaiting further state guidance.
Staff proposed a small subcommittee to draft possible revisions to building-and-energy policies after Commerce issues guidance. Several advisory group members volunteered: Noelle, Monica, Don Stankey and Nelson Holmberg (nomination confirmed) were noted as interested parties. Project staff said the subgroup would meet in early February to review Commerce guidance and present recommended wording back to the full CAG at the February meeting; the subgroup will be advisory only, and any proposed language will still be subject to full CAG review and final decision by Planning Commission and County Council.
Jenna, the county project staff, told the group that building-and-energy policies will be excluded from the Feb. 12 survey so the full group can consider revised wording after the subcommittee reports. Staff emphasized the short timeline and asked for a small number of volunteers to expedite the work. Project staff said Department of Commerce guidance was expected by the end of January but timelines may slip.
Ending: The subcommittee will meet when Commerce issues guidance and return recommended edits to the full advisory group for discussion in February and March; staff will document the subgroup’s proposals and circulate them to CAG members in advance of full deliberation.
