Seattle Expands Heat Pump Rebates

Seattle announced a new $4,000 rebate for moderate-income households that switch oil heating systems to electric heat pumps, reports Ysabelle Kempe in Smart Cities Dive. “The rebate means income-qualified residents can access a total of up to $8,000 in support for transitioning to heat pumps, by stacking the new rebate with the city’s existing, non-income-restricted $2,000 instant rebate and a $2,000 federal tax credit.” 

The city plans to eliminate oil heating by 2030 and received $3.2 million from Washington state to expand its Clean Heat Program. City officials say an average household could save as much as $1,100 per year on heating costs by switching to a heat pump. “The state funding comes from Washington’s cap-and-invest program, which requires businesses to obtain allowances from the state to emit greenhouse gases,” Kempe explains.