Last April, a Washington state judge struck down Initiative 2066, which would have rolled back measures to reduce pollution. She declared it unconstitutional.

However, this ruling was controversial. By a small margin, Washington citizens had voted in favor of the initiative, which would have preserved access to gas appliances. At the end of May, Washington Attorney General Nick Brown appealed the ruling. 

In a statement reported by MyNorthwest, Brown said: “While I personally disagreed with I-2066, it was passed by Washington voters and is the law of the state.”

The fate of Initiative 2066 is up in the air. As it stands, Washington citizens can still opt for appliances powered by renewable energy or gas. 

TCD Picks » Induction Cooking

💡Discover the induction option that’s just right for your needs and your home

See what you’re missing with a single induction burner

Starting at $57

Handle whole meals with this portable plug-in cooktop

Starting at $180

Uplevel your kitchen with this 5-burner drop-in stove

Starting at $499

Go all the way with an induction range — and get an air fryer too

Starting at $1,999

In the long run, citizens have more to gain if the ruling stays as is, with appliances powered by renewable energy often outperforming their gas-powered counterparts. Induction stoves, for example, are actually more efficient and cost-effective than stoves powered by gas.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, induction stoves use an electromagnetic field to directly heat your cookware, making them up to three times faster than gas stoves. Plus, they turn off automatically when not in use and don’t emit deadly carbon monoxide. If you’re a renter, you could purchase a plug-in induction burner instead. 

Either way, you’d be eligible for tax credits. With the Inflation Reduction Act, you can save up to $840 on your new stove and receive tax breaks for other renewable energy purchases. However, you’ll need to act quickly — President Donald Trump plans on unraveling these policies with his latest bill. At the time of writing, Congress has not passed it.

If I-2066 does not take effect in Washington, then more homes would be built with renewable energy in mind. That means more induction stoves, heat pumps, and solar panels, all of which cut down on pollution and put Washington on track to transition to clean energy.

FROM OUR PARTNER Got a ductless mini split? Swap your outdated remote for a smart controller to elevate your cooling experience Klima is a smart thermostat and controller that’s very different to a traditional Nest or Ecobee. It’s designed specifically for ductless heating and cooling — like room A/Cs, window A/C units, and mini split heat pumps — regardless of brand or age. Klima helps you save on energy bills and make your life easier by automatically regulating your home’s temperature to exactly how you like it. You can even control your A/C from your phone and monitor usage no matter where you are. Learn more →

Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don’t miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.

Cool Picks

How the Expedia of solar panels helps homeowners save money and avoid a common trap: ‘Giving you confidence in the systems’

Homeowner easily debunks myth about solar panels one month after installing new system: ‘Passive income is always welcome’

REI makes it easy to find steep discounts on used gear and clothing — and you can make big money selling your old stuff too

This innovative company will install solar panels on your roof with no upfront costs — here’s how its business model works