Washington State Capitol Building front north angle morning golden hour
March 2025 Updates
Permanent Thermal Energy Network Bill Advances
The bill, HB 1514, would establish the regulatory environment for thermal energy networks and has been moved to the Washington House Appropriations Committee with minimal opposition.
BDC and Its Allies Ask for Funding for a Weatherization Scale-up Pilot and Weatherization Plus Health
BDC supported a broad coalition effort to support the budget ask of $36 million for the Weatherization Plus Health program and $19.5 million for a weatherization scale-up pilot proviso.
King County Relaunches its Energize Heat Pump Installation Program
King County announced the relaunch of its Energize heat pump program, which helps low and moderate-income homes in King County install heat pumps and other clean energy technology
The updated Energize program has been expanded to include new communities and enables income-qualified single-family homeowners and renters to qualify for 100% cost coverage. The program also offers upgrades to adult family homes and family home child cares and will also fund other home energy upgrades, including heat pump water heaters, induction stoves, and insulation.
Grid Stability Bill Passed by Washington House Committee on Energy & Environment
HB 1673, a bill to improve the stability of Washington’s electric grid and ready it for grid electrification, passed the Washington House Committee on Energy & Environment along party lines. The bill would establish the Washington Electric Transmission Authority to, among other duties, support upgrading and expanding the electric transmission system and be a state-wide resource for electrical transmission.
January 2025 Updates
Governor Bob Ferguson
Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson, a Democrat, will become the state’s first new governor in more than a decade. Ferguson had been serving as attorney general since his election in 2012. He has prioritized fiscal responsibility, public safety, and how to respond to the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump.
Washington Legislature
Washington lawmakers kicked off the 2025 legislative session on January 13. During the session, which is scheduled to last 105 days, legislators will work to confront the $10-$12 billion budget deficit facing the state over the next four years.
Anti-Decarbonization Lawsuits
Pro and anti-decarbonization parties have filed competing lawsuits over the anti-building decarbonization effort, Initiative 2066, which Washington voters narrowly approved to ban state and local governments from encouraging decarbonization. The outcome of the lawsuits will decide the future of the state’s new energy-efficient building codes, along with other policies that encourage the use of heat pumps over gas furnaces.
The lawsuit filed by I-2066’s supporters calls on the court to enforce the ballot measure, by forcing a rollback of the state’s heat-pump-promoting building codes. The Building Industry Association of Washington filed its lawsuit against the Washington State Building Code Council, seeking to force the Council to quickly adopt anti-decarbonization changes through emergency rules.
The other lawsuit, filed by I-2066 opponents, seeks to overturn the ballot measure, arguing it addresses too many subjects under one initiative, violating the Washington Constitution, which limits legislation to a single subject. The city of Seattle and King County are among the plaintiffs challenging the initiative, joined by environmental groups and others.