CONTACT:         Rebecca Harvey, Climate Mitigation Senior Program Manager, (360) 463-8181 or email at rebecca.harvey@co.thurston.wa.us

OLYMPIA – Thurston County and the cities of Lacey, Olympia, Tumwater, and Tenino each received a grant from the WA State Department of Commerce’s Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates (HEAR) program to support subsidized installations of high efficiency electric equipment for low- and moderate-income (LMI) households. The grants, totaling $2,003,850 in funding from Washington’s Climate Commitment Act, will be used for a countywide outreach and incentive campaign to promote home electrification in 2025. 

The five jurisdictions are collaborating to develop the “Energize Thurston” campaign, which aims to advance the region’s climate goals and reduce energy cost burdens for residents. The campaign will provide turnkey, subsidized installations of heat pumps and other electric appliances for income-qualified participants. It will also provide access to equipment discounts, guidance, and customer support for all participants regardless of income. Energize Thurston will build on and expand the City of Olympia’s current Energize Olympia campaign. 

“Transitioning homes away from fossil fuels to clean electricity is an essential strategy to meet our emission reduction goals,” said Tye Menser, Chair of the Board of County Commissioners. “Coordinating with our cities to distribute these state grant funds allows us to share resources and develop a regionally consistent program for county residents.”     

“The City of Tumwater has set a strategic goal to be a leader in environmental health and sustainability,” said Mayor Debbie Sullivan with the City of Tumwater. “Our regional partners share this vision, and the HEAR grants are a welcome boost that extends the benefits of energy efficiency to more people in our community.”

The Board of County Commissioners, Olympia City Council, and Tumwater City Council each approved their own state contract on September 17, 2024, for HEAR grants of $472,263, $481,483, and $477,540, respectively. The Lacey City Council approved their contract for a grant of $477,555 on September 11, and Tenino’s City Council did so for a grant of $95,009 on August 14. Olympia and Lacey each may direct some of their grant funding toward existing programs (Energize Olympia and Lacey’s Energy Efficiency Rebate Matching Program, respectively) and the rest will go toward the 2025 Energize Thurston campaign. 

Based on Thurston County’s 2022 greenhouse gas emissions inventory, energy use in residential buildings accounted for 26% of the county’s total emissions. From 2015 to 2022, emissions from residential natural gas use increased 31% while emissions from residential electricity only increased 3%. 

The Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates Program is supported with funding from Washington’s Climate Commitment Act. The CCA supports Washington’s climate action efforts by putting cap-and-invest dollars to work reducing climate pollution, creating jobs, and improving public health. Information about the CCA is available at www.climate.wa.gov.

For more information on Thurston County’s regional climate mitigation efforts, 
visit www.thurstonclimatecollaborative.org.

-30-