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Tumwater delays vote on home energy score ordinance, sends it to equity commission
Summary
After hours of public comment split between realtors and climate advocates, the Tumwater City Council voted unanimously to send the proposed residential energy performance rating and disclosure ordinance (home energy score) to the city’s Equity Commission for review and asked staff to return within 90 days.
Tumwater’s City Council on July 21 halted a final vote on a proposed residential energy performance rating and disclosure ordinance — commonly known as a home energy score (HES) — and unanimously directed staff to send the draft to the city’s Equity Commission for review.
Sustainability manager Alyssa (S24) presented the ordinance as a transparency tool “to enable more informed decisions about the full cost of operating dwelling units,” and described program elements including a regional quality-assurance provider, a proposed subsidy for low- and moderate-income sellers, and a planned implementation timeline targeting spring 2027. Alyssa told the council the regional service provider’s per-jurisdiction cost is estimated at about $18,083 in 2027 and $15,000 in 2028, with staff contributing roughly 0.25 FTE for regional work.
The bulk of the meeting’s public comment period was devoted to the HES. Supporters — including Lynn Fitzhugh, executive director of Restoring Earth Connection (S15), and Tom Crawford of the Thurston Climate Action Team (S14) — argued scores help buyers compare operating costs and prompt energy upgrades. Fitzhugh said audits typically range from about $180 to $350 and called the measure “common sense” for meeting climate goals. “When homeowners prepare to sell, many take out home equity loans to make improvements that increase the home's value,” she said.
Opponents, led by representatives of the Thurston County Realtors, urged caution. Dawn Baker (S16), president of the association, said the ordinance imposes an additional cost and administrative program on home transactions and questioned enforcement, funding, and whether disclosure alone will reduce emissions. “If housing affordability truly is a priority,” Baker said, “consider whether adding another government mandate moves us closer to that goal or further away from it.”
Council members raised questions about budget, equity and outreach. Mayor Pro Tem Kelly Vonholtz (S8) asked whether the city had budgeted subsidy funds; Alyssa said a subsidy request had been submitted in the base budget but could not guarantee future biennial funding. Council member Megan Sullivan (S3) moved to refer the ordinance to the Equity Commission with a 60‑day review timeline and return the item to council within 90 days; the motion passed unanimously.
Next steps: the Equity Commission will review the draft and staff will return the ordinance to council within the requested timeframe for additional consideration and a possible vote.
