Gas and construction industry groups recently moved to dismiss a lawsuit they had filed to block new Washington state building codes that require heat pumps in new residential and commercial construction.
The lawsuit contended that the codes harm the industry groups’ business, interfere with consumer energy choice, and don’t comply with federal law. The dismissal of the lawsuit follows a federal judge’s denial of the plaintiffs’ request to negate the building electrification requirement in the codes.
The lawsuit was filed shortly after a federal appeals court overturned Berkeley, California’s first-in-the-nation ban on gas hookups in new buildings. Berkeley had a different approach to the prohibition of gas in new buildings than the one taken by Washington. Unlike Berkeley, Washington effectively embedded the ban in its building codes by linking it to carbon emissions standards. Berkeley, on the other hand, enacted a sweeping ban on all gas hookups.
Washington’s building code changes passed last year are part of an effort to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions in the state by 2050.
Related Stories
| Jan 2, 2014
EPA move to assert oversight on small bodies of water among top regulatory battles for 2014
The EPA has started the process of declaring that it has the power to regulate streams, brooks, and small ponds.
| Jan 2, 2014
OSHA to hold public meeting on proposed rule to improve tracking of workplace injuries
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has scheduled a public meeting to allow interested parties to comment on the proposed rule to improve tracking of workplace injuries and illnesses.
| Dec 27, 2013
California’s new Title 24 energy code compliance date pushed back to July 1, 2014
Due to the stringency of the provisions in California’s new Title 24 energy codes, their implementation has been postponed until July 1, 2014 to allow jurisdictions and engineers to prepare for them.
| Dec 26, 2013
OSHA may require companywide reporting of injuries and illnesses
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is considering a change in policy that would require organizations to submit company-wide data on illnesses and injuries.
| Dec 20, 2013
Can energy hogs still be considered efficient buildings? Yes, say engineers at Buro Happold
A new tool from the engineering firm Buro Happold takes into account both energy and economic performance of buildings for a true measure of efficiency.
| Dec 19, 2013
EPA cracks down on lead paint rules
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced 16 enforcement actions for violations of the lead-based paint Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (RRP).
| Dec 11, 2013
Texas to require architects to be fingerprinted to get licensed
Starting January 1, 2014, architects who apply for an occupational license in Texas will have to share their fingerprints with the state.
| Dec 10, 2013
Whistleblowers can now file complaints online with OSHA
Whistleblowers covered by one of 22 statutes administered by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) now will be able to file complaints online.
| Dec 4, 2013
Rotterdam resiliency policies include floating neighborhood
The low-lying city of Rotterdam in the Netherlands is a world leader in storm resiliency with policies that impact businesses, private homes, and public infrastructure.
| Dec 3, 2013
Architects urge government to reform design-build contracting process
Current federal contracting laws are discouraging talented architects from competing for federal contracts, depriving government and, by inference, taxpayers of the best design expertise available, according to AIA testimony presented today on Capitol Hill.