Thurston County update: 'Energize Thurston' heat‑pump group purchase moves into installations; grant funds largely allocated

The Thurston Climate Mitigation Collaborative reported Monday that Energize Thurston, a regional group‑purchase program for heat pumps and heat‑pump water heaters, has moved from launch into active site assessments and installations, and that most jurisdictional grant funds for income‑qualified households have been allocated.

The program provides workshops, a vetted installer network, financing and incentives, and a low‑/moderate‑income (LMI) subsidized pathway administered by South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity. Julia Downey, the Collaborative’s community energy fellow, and a Thurston County staff member described the program’s design and status during the April 28 executive committee meeting.

Energize Thurston offers two participant pathways: an LMI pathway with grant‑funded subsidized installations (administered through Habitat for Humanity) and a self‑funded pathway available to all county households that combines a negotiated group‑purchase discount with utility rebates and federal tax credits. Program staff said the combined incentives and discounts can translate into roughly $5,000 in total savings for some self‑funded participants when rebates and tax credits are available.

Staff described how the program was stood up: the five participating jurisdictions executed an interlocal agreement, jurisdictions allocated state HEAR (Home Electrification and Appliance Rebate) grants and, in Olympia’s case, a federal EECBG award, and a competitive procurement selected four installation partners. Applications are routed to Habitat for initial screening and then distributed to installers for assessments and bids.

Outreach has included five in‑person workshops (three held so far), one virtual session, an on‑demand recording with Spanish subtitles, 200 posters and 1,000 outreach cards, tabling events, and jurisdictional and partner social media. Puget Sound Energy distributed an email blast on April 7 to customers in the county; staff said a second utility mailing is scheduled for May 15.

Program statistics reported at the meeting (as of the most recent weekly update staff shared): 586 workshop registrations and about 430 attendees (including on‑demand viewers), 304 total applications from 233 unique households, 257 applications from households seeking the LMI pathway and 47 from self‑funded applicants, 214 space‑conditioning heat pump applications and 90 heat‑pump water‑heater applications, and 22 completed installations to date. Staff said they expect substantially more installations in May as site assessments and contracting finish.

Staff also warned that most jurisdictional grant funds are committed. “Pretty much all of our grant funding has been spent,” the staff presentation said; Tenino was reported as having remaining grant dollars. LMI applicants not yet placed will be managed on a wait list while staff pursue additional funding rounds and other grants.

Public commenters praised the program. Ben Solecki, representing Solarize Thurston, said he sees these group‑purchase efforts as consumer‑protection as well as discount programs: “I kind of see both of those programs and Solarize in particular as…a consumer protection program as much, if not more, than it is a…solar discount program,” he said.

Program staff described next steps: accept self‑funded applications through the end of May, continue site assessments and installations through June, compile an evaluation report with lessons learned, and pursue follow‑on funding and a continuation plan to enable future rounds and potential expansion to renters or additional equipment types. The campaign website is energizethurston.org.

The committee did not take a formal vote on the program update; staff sought direction and reported operational status and metrics.