OLYMPIA, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – King County and the City of Seattle are among those that have filed a lawsuit to challenge the state’s natural gas initiative that narrowly passed last month.

The coalition also includes climate advocacy groups and claims in the suit filed on Dec. 11 that supporters of Initiative 2066 intentionally misled Washington voters.

Nearly 52% of voters approved I-2066, which prohibits the government from passing laws to discourage the use of natural gas and requires utilities to provide the service to anyone who wants it.

The lawsuit alleges that backers of the initiative combined several unrelated proposals to get them approved by voters who support keeping access to natural gas.

It adds that voters were not aware of the threat the initiative poses to the state’s climate regulations and higher energy bills.

Brian Heywood of Let’s Go Washington helped fund the initiative and pushed back on the allegations.

He says voters made their choice clear in protecting natural gas and their choice of energy.

The Seattle Times reports that a hearing is expected for early 2025 and could escalate the case to the state supreme court.