A building industry advocacy organization’s lawsuit against the state for failing to enact a voter-approved initiative protecting the installation of natural gas utilities in new construction will be back in court Feb. 14. 

A Thurston County Superior Court judge is scheduled to hear the state’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit from Building Industry Association of Washington.  

“Whichever way BIAW’s Complaint for Declaratory Relief is construed, it fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. The (Washington State Building Code) Council respectfully requests that BIAW’s Complaint for Declaratory Judgment be dismissed with prejudice,” the state wrote in its motion. 

Initiative 2066 protecting natural gas as an energy source went into effect on Dec. 5 following certification of the November general election. But the Building Industry Association of Washington says government agencies at the state and local level are refusing to comply and filed its lawsuit on Dec. 6. 

“Despite the fact that two million voters passed I-2066 in November, the Washington State Building Code Council (SBCC), local building officials, and others continue to punish new construction that utilizes natural gas.