Washington Establishes Decarbonization Planning Requirements for Campus District Energy Systems
OLYMPIA, WA — Governor Jay Inslee has signed House Bill (HB) 1390 into law, setting requirements for decarbonization planning for campus district energy systems to meet the state’s State Energy Performance Standard and establishing an alternative compliance pathway.
“This bill gives us a pathway to decarbonize 15 district energy systems across the state,” said Governor Inslee. “The bill is part of a larger state commitment to continue leading the nation in a clean energy economy.”
Washington’s State Energy Performance Standard set rules for energy performance standards for covered commercial buildings to maximize reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from the building sector. HB 1390 requires owners of campus district energy systems to begin developing a decarbonization plan by June 2024, and offers an alternative pathway for compliance. High performance district energy systems such as EcoDistricts leverage smart building technology to deliver energy (heating, cooling, and power) more efficiently while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and working in harmony with electrical grids.
“Washington is a model for collaboration around decarbonizing the built environment,” said Ash Awad, McKinstry President and Chief Market Officer. “This legislation will help to blaze a trail for how to best transform campus district energy systems over time for more sustainable communities.”
