Washington state officials, citing concerns related to a recent federal appeals court ruling, have delayed rules that were to begin July 1 that would have required electric heat pumps to be used in new residential and commercial construction, basically banning natural gas hookups.

In a special meeting held earlier in May, the Washington State Building Code Council (SBCC) agreed to pause a rulemaking enacted last year to require heat pumps for space and water heating in all new construction. The regulation would allow natural gas – but only as a backup energy source.

In delaying implementation, SBCC members cited a ruling in April by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. The Ninth Circuit, which also hears federal appeals for cases filed in Washington, in April...