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Public and council members urge Olympia to move quickly on home energy score ordinance
Summary
Multiple public commenters urged the Olympia City Council to adopt a home energy score (residential energy performance) ordinance immediately as part of the Thurston Climate Mitigation Plan; several council members expressed support but noted regional coordination and scheduling questions.
Three in-person public commenters urged the Olympia City Council on Feb. 3 to adopt a residential energy performance rating and disclosure ordinance without delay.
Tom Crawford, a board member and volunteer with the Thurston Climate Action Team, told the council the measure will "save home buyers money and encourage reduction in greenhouse gas emissions" and urged Olympia to adopt it as a regional leader. "Olympia adopting it will encourage others to follow suit," Crawford said.
Lewin Merrill, who identified himself as a born-and-raised Olympian, said the home energy score ordinance is a key item in the Thurston Climate Mitigation Plan (adopted 2021) and asked the council to schedule an immediate vote. "It is a practical step towards a better future," he said, adding that ordinance costs are "negligible." James O'Barr, another commenter, also supported requirements for home energy audits for homes for sale.
On the dais, Council Member Clark Gilman and Council Member Robert Vanderpool said they support the policy in principle and noted the value of coordinating with neighboring jurisdictions. Mayor Pro Tem Nguyen and others encouraged residents to attend a Thurston County Climate Mitigation Collaborative meeting on Feb. 23. Councilmembers signaled interest in moving forward while weighing regional coordination and staff scheduling.
No formal vote was taken on an ordinance at the Feb. 3 meeting; the item remains pending staff scheduling and potential interjurisdictional coordination.
What happened next: councilmembers asked staff to continue outreach and consider scheduling, and advocates asked the council to set an effective date "as soon as possible."
