Olympia, WA. (April 9, 2024) — In a landmark move for Washington state, the unanimous passage of House Bill 2131 has set the stage for a significant shift towards cleaner heating and cooling solutions. Spearheaded by Representative Alex Ramel, the new legislation empowers electric and gas utilities to operate and sell thermal energy through innovative thermal energy networks (TENs). This development promises to offer Washingtonians environmentally friendly heating and cooling options, marking a significant step in the state’s journey toward decarbonization.
The bill, distinct from geothermal energy initiatives under Senate Bill 6039, aims to leverage the existing infrastructure and expertise of gas utilities to deploy TENs. These networks will utilize ground-source heat pumps to distribute thermal energy for heating, cooling, and domestic hot water, drawing on various local non-emitting energy sources. With the potential to start as small as a two-building system and scale to community or regional sizes, TENs offer a flexible solution for clean energy distribution.