During Washington’s “short” 60 day legislative session in 2024 Shift Zero advocates focused on key opportunities to support equitable decarbonization of existing homes and buildings across the state. Although our priority bill, HB 1391 which would create a new statewide Building Energy Upgrade Navigator Program, did not proceed, a $3.5M budget proviso was allocated and will enable a Navigator to be set up in 2025. This Navigator program funding from the climate commitment account – along with investments in clean energy upgrades for affordable housing and school districts noted below – will advance climate action and environmental justice by moving WA communities away from fossil fuels toward cleaner, healthier and more efficient heating and cooling in our homes and buildings.
Successful Shift Zero Budget Priorities
- Creating a new Energy Upgrade Navigator Program – $3.5M in the operating budget – that supports neighborhood-level outreach, especially in lower income and overburdened communities, plus information and assistance to ensure all Washingtonians can access home and building upgrades that improve health, save money, create jobs, and reduce pollution. Check out Ivan Montes’ column in the South Seattle Emerald to hear how community-level connectors on home energy are already making a difference in one Seattle neighborhood (Beacon Hill).
- Multifamily affordable housing building efficiency grants – $55M in the capital budget – that make it easier for building owners to invest in electrification upgrades that will benefit low-income residents.
- School district indoor air quality and energy efficiency upgrades – $45M in the capital budget – that support overburdened school districts to electrify their HVAC systems and improve classroom air quality.
Shift Zero Partner Priorities
Funding allocated for a Value of Distributed Solar and Storage Study. Successful advocacy led to $500,000 in the budget for a Value of Distributed Solar and Storage Study. This study is a precursor to future net metering legislation, and will fund a comprehensive assessment to determine the monetary amount that distributed solar power generation is worth to ratepayers and consumers via Net Metering. Washington Solar Energy Industries Association led advocacy for this effort.
HB 1589 – Gas Utility Decarbonization passed, requiring the state’s largest gas utility (Puget Sound Energy) to plan for the clean energy transition and create electrification programs to transition customers off of its gas system. Climate advocates, including many Shift Zero members, were engaged to support a bill that would move PSE on a path toward equitable decarbonization. The final version of the bill raised concern among some advocates, due to financial perks for PSE and too few financial solutions for managing the costs of the gas-to-clean-energy transition for consumers. Advocates are committed to working on comprehensive gas decarbonization legislation in the future that would address the gas company’s obligation to serve customers gas, and in the meantime supporting implementation of this bill while protecting low-income customers, and holding PSE accountable for meeting the state’s climate goals. More info in this article from Sightline Institute.
HB 1433 – Home Energy Score Labeling, which would set up a state standard structure for home energy scoring and provide a platform for local jurisdictions to opt-in to create local programs, made its way through the opposite chamber but did not get a floor vote. Advocates, led by People for Climate Action, will bring back the policy next session.
HB 2253 – Fair Access to Community Solar, to establish a community solar bill crediting program aimed at increasing access to solar energy, did not proceed this session. The Coalition for Community Solar Access will continue to lead advocacy in the interim.
Other bills of interest that were successful this session:
- HB 2131 Allows gas and most electric utilities to own and operate thermal energy networks (TENs), and establishes a TEN pilot project program. TENs are utility-scale projects to supply thermal energy, eliminating on-site greenhouse gas emissions from heating and cooling and improving energy efficiency.
Thank you to the following legislators for your leadership on advancing clean buildings in Washington State!
- Rep. Beth Doglio
- Rep. Davina Duerr
- Rep. Lisa Callan
- Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon
- Rep. Timm Ormsby
- Rep. Alex Ramel
- Rep. Steve Tharinger
- Sen. Liz Lovelett
- Sen. Mark Mullet
- Sen. Joe Nguyen
- Sen. June Robinson
- Sen. Yasmin Trudeau
Shift Zero 