Seattle mayor proposes converting oil-heated homes to electric heat

Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan recently announced a plan to speed the transition of oil-heated Seattle homes to electric heating to help combat the climate crisis and fulfill a key commitment of Seattle’s 2018 Seattle Climate Strategy.

Durkan will transmit legislation to City Council that would impose a tax on heating oil providers starting July 1, 2020, and require that heating oil tank owners decommission or upgrade all existing underground oil tanks by 2028. Revenue from the tax would provide rebates and grants for Seattle homeowners to upgrade to energy efficient electric heat pumps.

“Moving faster to convert Seattle’s homes off of dirty fossil fuels is good for our climate, our economy, and our children’s future,” Mayor Durkan said. “Since I took office, Seattle has continued our work as a leader in fighting climate change and addressing environmental inequities. By investing in more housing near transit, advancing legislation to create more green buildings, and studying congestion pricing, we continue to work to create a greener and more just future.”

The tax of $0.24/gallon would fund rebates and grants for approximately 3,000 households. Low-income homeowners would be fully refunded for upgrade costs, and about 1,000 low-income households are expected to be eligible for a fully funded conversion.

“Our climate crisis demands that we stop using fossil fuels by 2030, including in the heating of our homes,” Councilmember Mike O’Brien said. “This is a bold and thoughtful approach to transition off home heating oil in a way that protects our climate and the workers and households who currently rely on oil for a job or heat.”

Seattle has as many as 18,000 oil-heated homes. Converting those homes to clean electricity could reduce Seattle’s climate emissions by 433,000 metric tons over 10 years. Electric heat pumps are more than twice as efficient as oil furnaces, and converting from oil would save the average household about $850 each year as compared to oil heat systems.

City of Seattle departments including the Office of Sustainability and Environment, the Seattle Fire Department and the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections would be directed to develop the criteria and plan for old oil tanks by July 1, 2020.