Tumwater planning commission reviews draft climate element, weighs home energy score and EV readiness actions

Tumwater Planning Commission members on Jan. 14 reviewed the draft climate element of the city’s 2025 comprehensive plan and focused discussion on the greenhouse gas mitigation subelement and related actions labeled CL4 through CL8.

Melissa Jones Wood, the city’s sustainability manager, presented the greenhouse gas subelement and told commissioners, “we must have a greenhouse gas mitigation subelement to address reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and vehicle miles traveled,” and she said the draft also integrates environmental-justice considerations the state requires.

The presentation outlined outreach already completed — tabling events, meetings with the Thurston Climate Mitigation Collaborative and a Climate Policy Advisory team, online open houses and targeted stakeholder interviews — and described the commission’s immediate review focus: information and actions intended to reduce building energy emissions and transportation-related vehicle miles traveled.

Key proposals discussed included a Home Energy Score disclosure tied to property listings and actions to increase EV charging readiness in existing rental housing. Jones Wood said the Home Energy Score disclosure would be added as a required field in the Northwest Multiple Listing Service (NWMLS) listing forms if the city adopts a local ordinance and partners coordinate the rollout. She said the score report would include…