Summary
As part of his second omnibus budget, Executive Zahilay proposed nearly $5 million in climate investments to fund programs and actions that reduce pollution, support jobs in the green economy, and build resilience in frontline communities.
Story
King County – King County Executive Girmay Zahilay is proposing $4.6 million to cut pollution and build climate resilience across King County. This proposal is part of the Executive’s $746 million supplemental budget that was transmitted to the King County Council last week.
The Executive’s climate proposal includes investments to reduce pollution and energy costs, protect residents from extreme weather, prepare workers for clean energy jobs, and continue to implement King County’s Strategic Climate Action Plan (SCAP). It also expands popular programs like the Energize program that improves heating, cooling, and energy efficiency in communities hardest hit by climate change.
“As climate change continues to accelerate, so must our efforts to protect the health and wellbeing of our communities,” said Executive Zahilay. “We’re focusing our investments on the frontline communities that experience the impacts of climate change first and worst. This proposal reflects King County’s commitment to meeting our climate goals and investing in action that delivers real results for many generations to come.”
Executive Zahilay based his funding package on key climate areas recommended by community leaders. If the budget is approved by the King County Council, the investments will include the following:
- Healthy Homes and Buildings – $1.25 million: Expand the Energize program to support home upgrades like weatherization and provide HEPA air filters for low-income homes to reduce the cost of energy bills and improve air quality. This proposal builds on the Executive’s expansion of the program in August to bring energy-efficient heat pumps to in-home childcare providers and adult family homes across the region.
- Climate Equity and Workforce Development – $1.2 million: Provide funding for 10 new community-driven climate projects through the Community Climate Resilience (CCR) grant program. This funding will also advance climate equity and workforce commitments in the Strategic Climate Action Plan (SCAP) by increasing funding for the JumpStart program and Climate Corps Fellows.
- Clean Transportation – $950,000: Bolster electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure by adding a public fast charging station in an overburdened community, develop a countywide public EV charging site feasibility assessment, and implement a system to manage internal EV charging.
- Climate Accountability and Planning – $620,000: Improve performance management and tracking for greater accountability and transparency on progress toward meeting King County’s SCAP goals.
- Resilience Hubs – $475,000: Strengthen climate resilience by piloting a combined solar-battery installation at a community site to provide reliable heating, cooling, clean air, and electricity, even during extreme weather events. Additional funding will provide air conditioners, air purifiers, and other vital resources to community members. This funding will also support extreme weather training.
- Climate Impacts Preparedness – $100,000: Provide sunshades to an additional 150-175 early childcare centers and expand the distribution of portable air conditioners to vulnerable communities through partnerships with nonprofits and local jurisdictions.
Building on Recent Investments
Executive Zahilay’s climate proposal builds on recent sustainability investments across King County.
On Sept. 10, the Executive announced $100 million in conservation funding to increase access to urban greenspace, restore salmon habitat, and protect farmland, forestland, and natural areas throughout the region.
In July, the Executive partnered with climate, forestry, and emergency management experts to develop a toolkit to help residents better prepare their homes and communities for increasing wildfire risk in Western Washington.
What People Are Saying:
“Climate action and clean air are deeply connected, and because of that, climate investments are investments in people,” said Christine Cooley, Executive Director of Puget Sound Clean Air Agency. “Programs that deliver on the SCAP, together with the regional Comprehensive Climate Action Plan, provide immediate benefits for cleaner air, healthier communities, and a more resilient King County.”
“King County has been a long-time leader in climate action, and we’re thrilled to see Executive Zahilay’s budget continue on this path by prioritizing its climate team and their work,” said Deepa Sivarajan, Local Policy Director with Climate Solutions. “Along with King County’s existing climate programs, this budget brings new investments in community resilience, clean energy, air quality, and workforce development that will help families throughout King County breathe cleaner air, be more resilient during heat waves or wildfire smoke events, and access good-paying jobs in clean energy.”
“The proposed budget responded to our community asks to mitigate climate, environmental, and health impacts with weatherization and HEPA filters,” said Maria Batayola, Chair of Beacon Hill Council and community advocate. “We are grateful to Executive Girmay Zahilay and look forward to working with Council to further help us and pass the budget.”
“For the past five years, CISC has partnered with King County to distribute over 600 box fan filter kits and air purifiers, along with education to help vulnerable community members improve indoor air quality and achieve better health outcomes,” said Karia Wong, Community Impact Director, Chinese Information Services Center. “It’s exciting to see the County continue investing in Healthy Homes and Buildings, promoting energy efficiency, and improving indoor air quality for residents, especially those living in older buildings who face high energy costs, inefficient heating and cooling systems, and poor indoor air quality. These investments would strengthen climate resilience across the County.”