Discounted heat pump program kicks off second year
CONTACT: Miriam Villacian, Senior Planner, Community Planning and Economic Development Department, (360) 628-2992 or miriam.villacian@co.thurston.wa.us
Discounted heat pump program kicks off second year in Thurston County
OLYMPIA – Thurston County, the cities of Olympia, Lacey, and Tumwater; and South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity are launching the second year of the Energize Thurston heat pump campaign. Energize Thurston provides discounts, instant rebates, and customer support to help Thurston County residents purchase and install efficient, electric heat pump equipment for home heating/cooling and water heating. A limited number of free and low-cost installations will be available to income-qualified households.
The campaign will take place in two phases. Phase 1, starting August 17, 2026, will offer all interested residents access to equipment discounts, customer support, and free site assessments from certified installers. Phase 1 will also provide subsidized installations for qualifying applicants on the program’s existing waitlist.
Phase 2, starting October 2026, will be open to new applicants with household incomes below 120% of the Thurston County area median income (AMI), who may qualify for funds to cover 80-100% of equipment and installation costs.
“Our Energize Thurston partnership secured grant funding over and above last year to expand this program to more of our Thurston County community in 2026,” said Chair of the Board of County Commissioners Tye Menser. “Last year local homeowners installed 227 new heat pump systems saving each household thousands of dollars, and we’re anticipating the savings will only grow as this program expands.”
South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity was awarded $4.17 million in grants for Energize Thurston in 2026-2027. This includes $3,071,333 from WA State Department of Commerce’s Home Electrification and Appliance Rebate (HEAR) program, $750,000 from Puget Sound Energy’s Residential Decarbonization Program, and $350,000 from Washington State University’s Community Energy Efficiency Program. The HEAR and PSE grants are both funded through Washington’s Climate Commitment Act.
Elizabeth Walker, CEO of South Puget Sound Habitat, commented, “Every day, we work with and hear from households forced to sacrifice heating their homes and keeping their air healthy for the sake of other basic living needs. We are grateful to Washington State, Puget Sound Energy, and Washington State University for recognizing the critical need in our communities, and for choosing to partner with us in efforts to ensure more of our neighbors will be able to reduce their energy costs and live in safer, healthier homes.”
Energize Thurston is a regional initiative of the Thurston Climate Mitigation Collaborative, an ongoing partnership among Thurston County, Olympia, Lacey, and Tumwater. On behalf of the partnership, the City of Olympia has contracted with two wholesale distributors of heat pump equipment, Thermal Supply Inc. and Ferguson Enterprises, to serve the countywide program. The distributors will provide discounts across a range of equipment options and will oversee a roster of highly qualified HVAC and plumbing contractors.
“Energize Thurston is making it easier than ever for homeowners to improve the comfort and efficiency of their homes,” said Olympia Councilmember Robert Vanderpool. “By partnering directly with regional distributors, we're expanding access to rebates and incentives, while creating more opportunities for local installers to participate in the program. This next phase of Energize will help even more households lower their energy bills, stay comfortable year-round, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”
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. “Heat pumps are revolutionary for people trying to save money while caring for our planet,” said Tumwater Mayor Leatta Dahlhoff. “We have seen how well heat pumps work, reducing costs for community members and eliminating harmful pollution that warms our world. We are proud to be part of this effort alongside Energize Thurston and partner jurisdictions.”
Lacey Councilmember Ryan Sui added, “Programs like Energize Thurston help make energy-efficient home upgrades more accessible for local families. Installing a heat pump can improve comfort year-round and lower energy consumption. It’s a practical investment that benefits homeowners and makes our community more resilient as we experience the impact of climate change.”
Interested homeowners are encouraged to visit www.energizethurston.org where they can register for a free educational workshop, find a list of certified installers, and schedule a free site assessment.
For more information, contact Rebecca Harvey, Climate Mitigation Senior Program Manager, Thurston County Community Planning and Economic Development Department, (360) 463-8181 or rebecca.harvey@co.thurston.wa.us.
PHOTO Courtesy of South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity: Thurston County resident Kathleen Gore and her dog pose by her Heat Pump.
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