The bill seeks to improve compliance pathways for the clean buildings performance standard in Washington State by introducing alternative metrics and extending reporting deadlines. It amends several sections of the Revised Code of Washington (RCW), including RCW 19.27A.170, 19.27A.210, 19.27A.220, and 19.27A.250, while also reenacting and amending RCW 19.27A.140 and 19.27A.200. Key provisions include the establishment of energy use intensity targets, the introduction of "conditional compliance" methods allowing partial compliance, and the potential for the Department of Commerce to adopt updated energy standards. The bill emphasizes reducing greenhouse gas emissions and encourages energy efficiency measures, with the department tasked to update standards every five years based on existing energy utilization data.

Additionally, the bill mandates building owners to create implementation plans based on energy audits and life-cycle cost analyses, while providing exemptions for historic buildings and outlining alternative compliance pathways for state campus district energy systems. It establishes a customer support program for tier 2 covered buildings, focusing on those lacking dedicated management, and imposes administrative penalties for noncompliance that cannot be passed on to tenants. The bill also sets a timeline for compliance and reporting, requiring evaluations of energy use and emissions data by July 1, 2029, and the adoption of performance standards by December 31, 2030, while ensuring that a small business economic impact statement is included in the rule-making process.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 19.27A.170, 19.27A.210, 19.27A.220, 19.27A.250
Substitute Bill: 19.27A.170, 19.27A.210, 19.27A.220, 19.27A.250