Clearing the air around Washington’s wood stove legislation
By Dan Thesman on Thursday, February 6th, 2025 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
OLYMPIA – Buying a new wood stove is an important investment for many people in Washington because these stoves provide heat in winter. According to the Washington State Department of Ecology, there are questions about whether consumers are getting good value, as Washington’s wood stove standards are outdated compared to newer federal ones, which aim for better air quality and efficiency. The Environmental Protection Agency has weaknesses in its stove testing and certification program.
To address this, Ecology is encouraging the Washington Legislature to pass Senate Bill 5174. This bill would update Washington’s standards to match federal ones and allow the state to verify that new stoves comply. This will help ensure consumer health and protect the environment, as smoke from wood stoves contributes to winter air pollution.
The bill aims to improve air quality and confirm that new wood stoves meet national standards. It does not require homeowners to replace existing stoves nor does it ban their use. It focuses only on new sales in Washington.
Photo via Washington State Department of Ecology
