After another year of devastating climate-driven wildfire, drought, and an unprecedented heat wave that killed over 100 people across our state, it is critical that Washington continues to act to reduce carbon emissions and protect our communities from the worst impacts of the climate crisis through smart energy policies.
Buildings – through the energy it takes to power them – are one of the largest and fastest-growing sources of climate pollution in Washington. Now our state has a unique opportunity to set an example nationally by developing the most climate-friendly statewide building energy codes in the country, but the fossil fuel industry is doing everything in its power to stop this from happening.
We can do things now to get fossil fuels out of our buildings to help clean our air and protect our climate. But if you’re a public utility customer (about half of folks in Washington) you're currently not eligible for incentives to electrify the ways you heat and cool your home.
A new bill on Targeted Electrification Incentives (HB 1767) would change that. It clarifies that public utilities can create electrification programs, allowing their customers to get incentives to buy efficient heat pumps and other electric appliances. Through these programs, public utility customers will get more choice and access to affordable, efficient all-electric technologies, and it would level the playing field between private and public utilities. Plus, the utilities can only implement these programs if they are beneficial to both the utility and its customers, so it’s a win-win!
We have a very small window to accelerate big solutions to the climate crisis for our health, our climate, and our future.
Thank you,
Amanda Parrish
Executive Director