Thurston County named Green Municipality of the Year by Chamber of Commerce 

The Thurston County Chamber of Commerce awarded Thurston County government its Green Municipality of the Year award, the county's latest recognition following changes to its fleet, energy infrastructure, and land use policy. 

The award highlights achievements in environmental planning and policy, green business practices, and the delivery of community-level climate, water and waste solutions. 

The chamber recognized the county at the Thurston Green Business Forum and Awards, as detailed in a county release on Wednesday, April 8. 

County Manager Leonard Hernandez attributed the award to sustained efforts across departments and long-standing partnerships with community stakeholders. 

"This recognition reflects more than a decade of work to modernize our internal operations and build the community relationships it takes to develop practical policies," Hernandez said.

"We are grateful for the (chamber) bringing community leaders together to tackle these challenges in a way that delivers measurable results for our community." 

Among the milestones behind the recognition is Thurston 2045, the county's updated comprehensive plan. It introduced a plan that holds county departments to specific climate-related tasks and timelines to ensure accountability and transparency in meeting long-term climate goals. 

The county's Energize Thurston program, funded through the Washington Climate Commitment Act, delivered more than 220 heat pump installations countywide in 2025, with close to 80 percent going to low-to-moderate-income households. 

Decarbonization efforts extended to the county's vehicle fleet. A portion of the fleet was converted to electric vehicles and the diesel fleet shifted fully to biofuel. 

The county also secured a SolSmart Silver designation, a distinction held by only 90 counties nationwide. The recognition followed the county's decision to remove its building permit requirement for rooftop residential solar installations, making it easier for homeowners to go solar. 

Additional efforts include the Fix-It Fair, an award-winning waste diversion program aimed at keeping repairable items out of landfills. The county also adopted a Home Energy Score rating labeling requirement for home sale listings, a policy set to take effect in 2027. 

More information on Thurston County's sustainability programs is available at the county’s web page.