Stakeholder feedback found mixed on exemptions as council readies April 22 work session on electrification fee

Staff summarized feedback from a stakeholder roundtable on the proposed electrification (climate pollution) fee and the exemptions committee members had discussed previously. She said stakeholders generally supported carving out an exemption for affordable housing and suggested mechanisms to expand eligibility beyond standard deed‑restricted 80% AMI definitions, such as higher AMI thresholds; staff said additional work is needed to define administrative mechanisms.

Views were mixed on other possible exemptions: dual‑fuel heating system exemptions and renewable natural gas drew divergent opinions from stakeholders, and several parties raised administrative complexity concerns. Stakeholders and some committee members also proposed evaluating discounts (rather than full exemptions) for homes with existing on‑site solar, with committee members noting that such options raise verification and administration questions.

Staff outlined timeline options: aligning implementation with the next building code update (April 2027) or targeting July 1, 2027, or Jan. 1, 2028, and discussed stakeholder interest in a 2–3‑year pilot with formal check‑ins and evaluation windows; staff said council direction is needed at the April 22 work session to set final mechanics and timeline so code drafting can proceed.

Robin, who attended the roundtable, noted the pilot concept requires careful design and may take longer than some expect to yield conclusive results. Staff emphasized that adding more exemption categories or compliance paths increases administrative complexity and could push back the implementation timeline.

The committee will present its summary to council on April 22; staff will draft code language consistent with council direction and return with an adoption schedule and a public hearing date, with staff currently planning a public hearing when adoption is ready.