What’s going on with WA gas stoves? Here are facts behind discussion on gas appliance bans
Questions over gas stoves have gained media traction nationwide in recent weeks. The appliance has been linked to asthma cases in children and disproportionately impacts the health of low-income residents, advocates against the kitchen appliance argue.
Washingtonians have also voiced concern about the kitchen appliance in local council meetings, with state agencies and during state Legislature seasons. Here’s what you should know and how the Evergreen State fits into the discussion.
Gas stove ban discussion
In early January, commissioner Richard Trumka Jr. with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said in an interview with Bloomberg that the commission was considering banning gas stoves. Trumka then elaborated to CNN that the proposed ban would only impact new stoves, not existing ones.
In the wake of the controversy, commission chairperson Alexander Hoehn-Saric clarified on Jan. 11 that he and CPSC are not looking to ban gas stoves. The White House similarly said President Joe Biden doesn’t support banning gas stoves.
Trumka’s comment came a few weeks after 20 members of Congress sent a letter to Hoehn-Saric expressing concern for gas stoves. The letter recommends that the appliance have mandatory performance standards. The Congress members also state that stoves can harm the health of residents, especially those who come from lower-income backgrounds. Washington state Sen. Patty Murray co-signed the letter.
Natural gas in WA
Over the past few years, Washingtonians have begun to address the environmental and medical impacts associated with natural gas use.
The state has made steps reduce its carbon footprint, such as adopting the Climate Commitment Act to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 95% by 2050. The program began in January, and the first emissions allowance auction is taking place later this month. And in November 2022, the Washington State Building Code Council voted to mandate heat pumps in new residential constructions, which is meant to decrease the state’s carbon emissions.
In the state Legislature, House Bill 1084 and Senate Bill 5093 aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in residential and commercial buildings. The bills have been stalled since early 2022.
Washington medical experts have advocated against methane use in residential buildings, too.
Annemarie Dooley, a physician and member of Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility, said in an interview with The News Tribune that living in a house with a gas stove is comparable to living with someone who smokes tobacco. She and other organization members have testified to the Washington State Building Code Council that methane gas use is harmful because many residences have poor gas stove ventilation.
“I don’t think anyone is calling for a ban on existing gas stoves in [people’s] homes,” Dooley said. “But I think once many people hear the information on the strong link to asthma, many will want to switch.”
Some have dissented from the state government’s response to natural gas, often on the grounds that such decisions have high costs with little reward.
For instance, Rep. Mary Dye released a statement in February 2022 criticizing Gov. Jay Inslee’s agenda to pass low-carbon fuel standards.
How air pollutants impact health
Gas stoves impact an individual’s medical health and compound social inequities in several ways:
- Gas stoves emit a pollutant called nitrogen dioxide. Researchers have found that some respiratory illnesses are connected to exposure to nitrogen dioxide, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
- About 12% of current asthma cases in the U.S. are attributed to gas stove exposure, according to a study from December 2022, published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. Four-fifths of households with children and gas stoves don’t regularly use its exhaust vent, the report outlines.
- Emissions from gas stoves increase illness risk of illness in children, older people and those with underlying conditions, according to a different study from November 2022 from the American Public Health Association. The health risks also disproportionately affect communities of color due to a long history of housing discrimination and little control over the fuel type or quality of their appliances.
- In 2022, the U.S. Energy Information Administration released data that found 24% of Washington homes used natural gas cooking appliances. This includes stove tops and ovens. A different 2022 administration report found that around 38% of U.S. households use natural gas for cooking.
This story was originally published February 7, 2023 at 9:58 AM with the headline "What’s going on with WA gas stoves? Here are facts behind discussion on gas appliance bans."
