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SBCC advances 2024 energy code preliminary cost‑benefit analyses to CR‑102; public comment window set July 1–Aug. 7
Summary
The council voted to forward the commercial and residential preliminary cost‑benefit analyses for the 2024 Washington State Energy Code to the CR‑102 filing, opening a public comment period from July 1 to Aug. 7 and scheduling hearings Aug. 5 (Olympia) and Aug. 7 (Spokane).
The Washington State Building Code Council on Friday moved the 2024 Washington State Energy Code commercial and residential preliminary cost‑benefit analyses (CBAs) and related small business economic impact statements to the CR‑102 filing, starting the formal public comment window and triggering a set of public hearings.
Staff explained the structure of the commercial CBA and its appendices, noting that many proposed changes were categorized as having no economic impact and that Moore MacLeod performed analysis on the most cost‑sensitive proposals. Moore MacLeod representatives (Ernest Stevens/Warren MacLeod) were present to answer technical questions. The council emphasized that forwarding the documents to CR‑102 is an acknowledgement for publication and not final adoption of numeric assumptions.
Key procedural dates and logistics were read into the record: the CR‑102 filing will be made (staff indicated) on or about July 1; the filing will publish in the Washington State Register on July 22; the public comment window will be open from July 1 through Aug. 7; and two hearings are scheduled for Aug. 5 in Olympia and Aug. 7 in Spokane. Staff also said final adoption requires responding to public comments, possible code modifications, and filing of CR‑103. Implementation of adopted code is planned for May 3, 2027, to follow the next legislative session.
Public commenters and council members raised concerns about CBA assumptions and modeling choices. Patrick Hanks (Building Industry Association of Washington) and others said some costs may be underestimated and urged detailed, itemized comments during the public comment period. Ernest Stevens (Moore MacLeod) said some proposals are analyzed with interrelated effects and that the reports point to where measures relate to one another. Several council members supported convening an economic work group to review issues identified during the comment window.
Council members then moved to forward the commercial CBA to CR‑102 for publication; the motion passed by voice vote. A separate motion to forward the residential CBA and accompanying small business economic report to CR‑102 also passed by voice vote. The council asked staff to correct indexing and minor editorial items before filing and encouraged stakeholders to submit specific, itemized comments to assist staff and the council in responding during deliberation.
