Energy Rebates and Tax Credits

Here are some current rebates or tax credits that can apply to energy efficiency and renewable energy:

Inflation Reduction Act Tax Credits: See the link on Energy.gov for details. Also, this Environmental Defense Fund article has a great graphic summary of the opportunities to save money with these tax credits for energy efficiency, renewable energy, and electric vehicles.

Washington State Energy Rebates: expected to start in early 2025, see the link to WA Commerce page for the latest information.

Jefferson PUD Rebates: for current JPUD rebates

Olympic Clean Air Agency Woodstove Upgrades or Removal: They now have rebates for replacing wood stoves with more efficient ones, or switching to a new gas or electric appliance. Restrictions apply, see link for details. (And note that if you want to reduce your carbon footprint, an electric heat pump is the way to go!) Learn more about burning wood and the rebates in this article.

Grant and Loan Opportunities for Commercial Businesses / Ag Producers

Jefferson County Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy and Resiliency (C-PACER) Program: an innovative financing mechanism to help commercial, industrial, agricultural and multi-family buildings become more efficient and resilient. It is a loan agreement between a private lender and the property owner, like a mortgage or home improvement loan. The unique part about C-PACER financing is that the county records the loan as a lien on the property, which means that if the property owner sells the building, the assessment stays with the building (unless the payoff is part of the sale agreement).

Rural Energy for America Program (REAP): USDA Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Loans and Grants for rural small businesses and/or agricultural producers. The program provides guaranteed loan financing and grant funding for renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements. Agricultural producers can also apply for new energy-efficient equipment and
new system loans for agricultural production and processing.

Renewable Energy 

To reduce greenhouse gas emissions, a key strategy is to electrify as many of the energy-using devices in the economy and in our daily activities as possible and to use renewably generated electricity to power them. The electricity that the PUD supplies is 95% renewable and is based on the hydroelectricity generated by the Bonneville Power Administration. Individuals and businesses can also generate their own electricity to supplement that obtained from the PUD primarily using photovoltaic panels and to a lesser extent small scale wind turbines. Below are the two current Jefferson County-based solar providers. If there are others, let us know at info@jeffersoncan.org.

Power Trip Energy
Electrical contracting firm that specializes in the design, sale, and installation of grid-tied solar electric (PV) systems. Services Jefferson, Clallam, Kitsap, and Mason Counties. Be sure to check out their FAQ section, which provides detailed information to answer your questions about solar.

Frederickson Electric
A local firm that installs solar photovoltaic systems for homes, businesses, and public buildings, primarily in Jefferson, Clallam, and Kitsap counties.

Energy.gov information on small scale wind turbines: gives information on installing and maintaining residential scale wind turbines

Energy Efficiency

The 2018 Inventory of Greenhouse Gases for Jefferson County shows that 80% of CO2 equivalent emissions from home energy are due to usage of propane, fuel oil or wood, since the carbon footprint of our our electricity is low. Much of this energy is used for space heating. Increasing energy efficiency in buildings is a great opportunity to save money as well as to lower greenhouse gas emissions.  Sources for information on existing building weatherization and energy efficient construction of new buildings are listed below. And switching from propane, fuel oil or wood to electricity for heating can have a significant impact on emissions.

The Jefferson PUD Energy Savings Tips and Tricks page has a variety of resources on energy efficiency, including a Do It Yourself Home Energy Audit Book.

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program: The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) from OlyCAP helps keep families safe and healthy through initiatives that assist families with energy costs. OlyCAP provides federally funded assistance in managing costs associated with home energy bills. LIHEAP helps families in our community by providing energy grants to help offset winter heating costs. The program provides assistance for electricity, propane, heating oil and wood.

Jefferson PUD: Jefferson County PUD is offering rebates on windows, insulation and duct sealing. They also offer rebates on heat pumps as well as Energy Star certified home appliances such as washers, dryers, smart thermostats, refrigerators and freezers.

Energy Star® Products and Energy Efficiency Resources: Besides lists of Energy Star Appliances (heating, cooling, electronics and lighting), these pages (from the EPA) also have great links for How to Heat and Cool your House Efficiently,  guides for air sealing and insulation, etc. It also lists federal tax credits for increasing energy efficiency.

Building and Remodeling

Green Home Buying Guide: Strategies to create a home that’s healthy, saves money, and is easy on the environment. Also contains useful links to green building resources.

Jefferson County Home Builders Association: Find a homebuilder or contractor on the Olympic Peninsula

Green Commercial Building LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) programs, construction recycling. 

Green Neighborhood Development LEED program for compact and transit-oriented development.

Green Building

Green building is the practice of creating structures and using processes that are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout a building’s life-cycle from siting to design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation and deconstruction. 

Zero energy homes 

What are Zero Energy Homes?

Zero energy homes are just like any home—except better. They are regular grid-tied homes that are so air-tight, well insulated, and energy efficient that they produce as much renewable energy as they consume over the course of a year, leaving the occupants with a net zero energy bill, and a carbon-free home

US Department of Energy zero ready homes : The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) defines a zero energy ready home as a high performance home which is so energy efficient that a renewable energy system such as rooftop solar panels can offset all or most of its annual energy consumption.

Passive House institute: Passive building is about building science and balance. It’s the best path to Net Zero and Net Positive. And it’s not just for houses—passive building works for schools, offices, hotels, multifamily, and high-rises too.