Thurston program wins $1.1 million in grants to expand subsidized heat-pump installations

Rebecca Harvey, a Thurston County staff member, told the TCMC Executive Committee that Habitat for Humanity of South Puget Sound received two grants to subsidize installations for lower- and moderate-income households on the program’s wait list.

"We are gearing up to launch our second year of the Energize Thurston heat pump group purchase program," Harvey said, announcing a $350,000 award from Washington State University’s Community Energy Efficiency Program (SEEP) and a $750,000 award from Puget Sound Energy’s residential decarbonization grant program. She said those awards would allow the partner to serve an estimated 60 to 70 households from the existing wait list and that another grant application remains pending.

Alyssa Jones Woods, who presented the TCMC 2024 progress report later in the meeting, placed the grants in the broader program context: "Between the four jurisdictions in 2024, we secured $9.2 million in grant funding for multiple climate programs," she said, and reported that about $2.3 million supported the Energize Thurston effort in 2024.

The program partners with South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity to manage subsidized installations; residents can find incentives and program information through a regional portal the staff built. Committee members applauded the funding news and asked staff to provide updates as grant awards are finalized.

The committee did not take any formal votes related to program funding at this meeting; staff noted a pending application that could increase subsidized installation capacity.