House Republicans argue against bill that would increase home building costs through new energy code requirements

February 14, 2022

A controversial bill passed the House after midnight Sunday morning that opponents say could significantly increase the costs of housing and home heating. John Sattgast reports.

SATTGAST: House Bill 1770 would enact net-zero energy reduction regulations to the state energy code for new buildings. House Republican Leader J.T. Wilcox argued strongly against the measure, saying it will make it harder for families to afford their first home.

WILCOX: “Two hundred fifty thousand families that don't have a home. You add thousands of dollars to the cost of a home, there's going to be a material number of families that don't have homes, because we've made it that much more expensive to build the home.”

SATTGAST: Allyn Representative Dan Griffey said thousands of workers in the building trades are opposed. . .

GRIFFEY: “And none of them got to testify on the bill. They didn't get to share in open public, Madam Speaker, their opposition to the bill.”

SATTGAST: The top Republican on the House Environment and Energy Committee, Representative Mary Dye, says the bill also puts electric reliability at risk.

DYE: “This is another job-killing bill that won't reduce carbon, but will restrict energy choices, and drives up costs for middle and lower-income families who can least afford it.”

SATTGAST: John Sattgast, the state Capitol.