In the 2025 legislative session, Shift Zero priorities focused on funding for equitable clean energy upgrades and healthy home repairs for vulnerable communities across the state. Advocates gave voice to the many benefits that investments in Weatherization Plus Health, Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates, and the Community Energy Efficiency Program provide to households and small businesses in Washington. These programs are often transformational for the people they serve: an adult family home in King County now has air conditioning ahead of wildfire season thanks to a new heat pump installation; a home with new insulation and efficient heating systems lowers energy bills for a family living on low-incomes. They make a difference in everyday lives and in the larger transition away from fossil fuels in our homes and buildings.
Budget Priorities
Legislators were making very tough decisions this session, addressing a $16 billion shortfall over the next four years. In the final 2025-27 biennium budget Shift Zero advocates were pleased to see continued commitment and support for key building decarbonization programs, including:
- $30 million for the state’s Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates program, with proviso recommendations specifying that the program includes renters, and at least 40% of program spending for vulnerable and overburdened populations (p.13-14);
- $35 million for Weatherization Plus Health, including $5 million for the Community Energy Efficiency Program keeping housing affordable, reducing energy bills, and improving health and safety for thousands of Washingtonians (p. 25-26);
- $3.5 million reappropriated for the Building Energy Upgrade Navigator, to support community outreach, information and assistance to ensure more Washingtonians can access home and building upgrades (p. 67-68).
Shift Zero members look forward to supporting successful implementation of these investments and using lessons learned to inform future policy and funding efforts.
Shift Zero Partner Priorities
- HB 1015, Home energy performance report, sponsored by Rep. Davina Duerr, made its way through the House but did not advance. This bill would set up a statewide standard structure for home energy scoring, providing a basic platform for local jurisdictions to opt-in to create local programs. People for Climate Action led advocacy, and work will continue with support for cities and counties who plan to move forward with home energy score programs even without a state standard.
- HB 1514, Expanding the use of thermal energy networks (TENs), sponsored by Rep. Alex Ramel, passed! This year’s work builds on the TENs pilot projects bill HB 2131 passed last session, and provides regulatory clarity for thermal energy companies by bringing them under the oversight of the Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC), while offering exemptions for smaller systems and those already in development. Additionally, the bill allows electric utilities to offer discounted rates to TEN operators—under specific UTC-approved conditions—to enhance electrical grid efficiency.
- HB 1543, Increasing compliance pathways for the clean buildings performance standard, sponsored by Rep. Beth Doglio, passed! HB 1543 incorporates recommendations from the state-funded Clean Buildings Program workgroup to provide alternative metrics and flexibility to support compliance with the state’s building performance standard. Additionally the bill prohibits penalties incurred from non-compliance from being passed along to tenants.
Thank you to the following legislators for your leadership advancing clean buildings in Washington State!
- Rep. Beth Doglio
- Rep. Davina Duerr
- Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon
- Rep. Timm Ormsby
- Rep. Alex Ramel
- Rep. Steve Tharinger
- Sen. Liz Lovelett
- Sen. Nicole Macri
- Sen. June Robinson
- Sen. Derek Standford
- Sen. Yasmin Trudeau
Shift Zero 