Thurston County and partner cities are launching the Energize Thurston group purchase campaign to reduce upfront costs of efficient, electric heat pump equipment for county residents.
From March to June 2025, Energize Thurston will provide access to program-exclusive discounts, instant rebates and customer support to streamline installations of heat pump heating, cooling and water heating systems. A limited number of subsidized installations will be available to income-qualified households.
An interlocal agreement among Thurston County, Lacey, Olympia, Tumwater and Tenino establishes Thurston County as the lead jurisdiction, with all five jurisdictions contributing grant funding to support the program.
“The county taking the lead on Energize Thurston is the result of the incredible work of our climate mitigation team, led by Rebecca Harvey, whose dedication has been instrumental in bringing the program to life,” Thurston County Commissioner Emily Clouse said in a news release. “By working with our partners to make energy-efficient heat pumps more accessible to low-and moderate-income households, we’re helping families lower their utility costs, improve air quality and build resilience against extreme weather. These are the kinds of investments that make a real difference in moving us toward a more sustainable future.”
To qualify for Energize Thurston’s program-exclusive discounts and incentives, residents must attend one of the educational workshops, either in person or remotely. The workshops provide information on heat pump technology, home energy savings, available discounts and financial incentives, and income eligibility for grant-funded installations. Attendees will also meet selected installation partners and be able to sign up for a free site assessment.
The workshop schedule is as follows:
• Monday, March 24 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. via Zoom (a recording will be posted to view remotely)
• Wednesday, April 9 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in Yelm
• Tuesday, April 22 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in Lacey
• Tuesday, May 6 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in Tenino
• Tuesday, May 27 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in Olympia
Residents can learn more and register for upcoming workshops at www.energizethurston.org.
Heat pumps provide highly efficient, all-electric space heating and water heating, plus the added benefit of air conditioning to make homes more comfortable in the summer months.
The Thurston Climate Mitigation Collaborative has designed and planned Energize Thurston as a high-priority regional initiative to tackle the county’s largest source of greenhouse gas emissions: residential energy use.
Residents with a household income below 120% of Thurston County area median income may qualify for funds to cover 80-100% of equipment and installation costs, paid for by grants from the state Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates (HEAR) program and administered in partnership with South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity. South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity will coordinate the subsidized installations for Energize Thurston.
The HEAR program is supported with funding from Washington’s Climate Commitment Act, which supports Washington’s climate action efforts by putting cap-and-invest dollars to work reducing climate pollution, creating jobs and improving public health.
“We are proud that we were selected with the cities of Lacey, Olympia and Tumwater to receive a grant to help our qualified residents upgrade their heating systems to energy-efficient heat pumps,” Tenino Mayor Dave Watterson said in a news release.
“I want to express my support for Energize Thurston and its efforts to reduce energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions,” Tumwater Mayor Debbie Sullivan added in the release. “Energize Thurston and its city partners are raising awareness of the climate, health and economic benefits of heat pumps while caring for people in our communities.”
