HELP STOP SENATE BILL 5174
“This is ridiculous overreach!” – 4th LD Constituent
Wood-burning stoves are a critical home-heating source for many homeowners across Washington. Rural families depend on them more than those who live in bigger cities. Lower-income families, seniors on a fixed income, and anyone else trying to make ends meet while energy costs soar will suffer under a bill that YOU still have time to stop in its tracks. Still others couldn’t stay warm during a power outage without them.
Senate Bill 5174, which was requested by the Washington State Department of Ecology, allows the agency to impose new rule and regulations on wood stoves, making them more expensive and out-of-reach for some Washingtonians.
The Legislature should not pass more regulations that will make heating our homes more expensive. It’s government overreach at a time when people are struggling to make ends meet.
Watch a brief video message from Sen. Shelly Short, 7th LD.
Right now, if you needed to replace your wood stove, the ones on the market already comply with regulations from the federal Environmental Protection Agency. The additional regulations are unnecessary. If SB 5174 becomes law, and you can’t afford to buy a new wood stove that meets the new regulations, you might need to continue using your older, dirtier stove or go without heat.
Wood stoves make for a cozy home, but they are also a necessity for many people who own them. They are an affordable, reliable and self-sufficient heating source. SB 5174 could be the first step to an eventual ban on all traditional wood-burning fireplaces and other devices.
What can you do?
You can contact Senate Democrat leaders and tell them to let SB 5174 die in committee.
SB 5174 received a hearing in the Senate Environment, Energy and Technology Committee on Jan. 24. It’s scheduled for a vote in that committee TOMORROW, FEB. 14. If the committee votes to move the bill, it will go to the Senate Rules Committee where the Democrats can pull it to the Senate floor for a vote. If that happens, the bill will pass because Democrats have the majority. If it passes, it will go to the House of Representatives for consideration, where you will get another chance to stop the bill from becoming law.
Senate Majority Floor Leader: marcus.riccelli@leg.wa.gov
Senate Majority Leader: jamie.pedersen@leg.wa.gov
Chair of the Environment, Energy & Technology Committee: sharon.shewmake@leg.wa.gov
What are constituents saying about this bill?
The following are verbatim quotes from constituents who emailed our offices to share their opposition to SB 5174. They make a great case against the bill.
4th Legislative District
- “Using a wood stove helps use up dead wood which becomes a fire hazard and provides heat at a fraction of the cost of electric furnaces. I am on a fixed income and this is vital to maintaining my budget.”
- “This seems a way for the state to exercise even more control over the choices we have to heat our homes. They want to take away woodstoves and natural gas and make us depend solely on electric.”
- “Wood burning is the most reliable option for people that are living in rural or mostly rural areas. Our power went out more than 10 times this winter so far. A generator and a heater is not a suitable option during those times. Even if you switch to solar during the winter months there is not always enough sunlight to power a heat source. Natural gas is not available in my location and if you use propane and run out during the winter time there is limited accessibility for companies to bring more. I think it’s a great idea in cities and high populated areas to not use wood but that doesn’t work for everyone.”
- “This law is proposed by/for people who don’t understand there is a world outside the subdivisions of King/Pierce Counties and who don’t understand that, for a fair portion of the rest of the state, wood burning stoves/fireplaces are the most effective means to heat ones home and live in relative comfort/happiness.”
- “Electric heat is EXPENSIVE, wood heat is CHEAP. My monthly electrical bill is $70-$80 during the colder months. I’d be looking at $175-$350 per month to heat my home with electric heat. That is not financially feasible for me.”
7th Legislative District
- “Stop!!!! The government overreach. Wood Stoves are the only source of heat for many citizens. Ridiculous government nonsense has to stop.”
- “This creates and undue burden on rural, poorer communities as wood heat is a natural inexpensive and only option for many people. to heat their homes and work areas such as shops etc. State needs focus more on helping people to improve and upgrade heating system, still using wood rather than regulations.”
- “Hundreds of thousand people use wood to heat their homes. The Forest Service provides free permits. For the price of a tank of gas a homeowner can heat for a month. Being on a fixed income I cannot afford a $400 dollar a month electric bill.”
- “We here in rural northeastern Washington State use wood as a primary source of heat and for a lifetime use firewood from the dead, dying timber in the forest that would otherwise be a fire danger adding to any forest fires. We manage our forests around us offering jobs and a service to the community heating their homes with a renewable natural resource that is growing faster than we can take it out. I strongly oppose SB 5174. Thank you for fighting this bill.”
- “This morning it is -4 degrees outside. The legislators in Olympia forget how the other side of the state lives. I hope the power doesn’t go out because I don’t have a wood stove to heat my house.”
20th Legislative District
- “This marginalizes middle class and low income citizens in putting them on more of a financial hardship solely based on electric energy costs.”
- “Having wood stove heat is something that we need available for low income households to help offset power cost. Having to rely on electric or gas heat is extremely expensive if you own a old home. We also rely on wood stove heat during power outages in winter to cook and heat our homes.”
- “I absolutely oppose this government over reach. We use a wood stove to supplement our heat when very cold. With utility rates constantly increasing it is very necessary. We have made our home very energy efficient and feel this type regulation will be more detrimental to our state residents than beneficial.”
- “Because of the astronomical energy costs that are raised every year, we can’t afford to heat our home solely with electricity. Not to mention the importance to stay warm and alive during power outages. This is especially important in rural areas where power may not be restored in a few hours, but days or even up to a week.”
And we have hundreds more!