HB 1976 passed the Senate, unamended, by a near unanimous vote and has been delivered to the Governor for signature. While the bill authorizes Commerce to provide greater incentive payments to building owners making energy upgrades, there is no fiscal appropriation tied to the bill. Once signed by the Governor, HB 1976 goes into effect on June 6, 2024.

AWC supported the bill.

Proposal to increase incentives for clean buildings compliance receives unanimous approval in House

February 9, 2024

AWC is happy to report that HB 1976 has sailed through the House chamber and passed to the Senate. The bill was unanimously approved in policy Committee and on the House Floor, receiving no amendments along the way.

HB 1976 was voted off the House floor last week and awaits a hearing in the Senate Environment, Energy & Technology Committee.

Early compliance with the state’s clean buildings standard may soon be even more worth your while

January 5, 2024

Washington’s clean buildings Early Adopter Incentive Program may soon incentivize even greater participation thanks to a proposal to provide larger payments to building owners who comply with the clean buildings standards ahead of schedule. HB 1976, from Rep. Mary Fosse (D–Everett), would allow the Dept. of Commerce to provide incentive payments to program participants at rates greater than currently allowed by law.

For background, the incentive program was established in 2021 to encourage building owners to comply with the state’s Clean Buildings Performance Standard ahead of the deadlines in state statute. The performance standard sets energy management and benchmarking requirements for owners of Tier 1 and Tier 2 buildings. Those who make energy upgrades to qualifying buildings ahead of the deadline may apply for payment from Commerce at the rate of 85 cents per square foot for Tier 1 buildings and 30 cents per square foot for Tier 2 buildings.

If HB 1976 is passed, Commerce could pay early adopters even more than the base incentive payment outlined above.

For reference, a Tier 1 building is where the sum of nonresidential, hotel, motel, and dormitory floor areas exceed 50,000 gross square feet, excluding the parking garage area. A Tier 2 building is where the sum of multifamily residential, nonresidential, hotel, motel, and dormitory floor areas are between 20,000 and 50,000 gross square feet, excluding the parking garage area. Tier 2 covered buildings also include multifamily residential buildings whose floor areas are 50,000 gross square feet or greater, excluding the parking garage area. AWC previously wrote about the buildings performance standard here. The expanded incentive may provide additional, much-needed support to cities trying to comply with the new performance standards ahead of statutory deadlines.

Dates to remember

HB 1976 is scheduled for a hearing in the House Environment & Energy Committee on Monday, January 8 at 1:30 pm.