Thurston County Named 'Green Municipality of the Year' for Sustainability

The county was recognized for its environmental planning, green business practices, and community-level climate solutions.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 8:39pm

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A brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen print of a solar panel repeated in a tight grid pattern, using vibrant neon colors and heavy black outlines to create a modern pop art representation of renewable energy.Thurston County's innovative sustainability programs and policies have earned it recognition as the 'Green Municipality of the Year', showcasing the community's commitment to a sustainable future.Lacey Today

Thurston County government was named Green Municipality of the Year by the Thurston County Chamber of Commerce in recognition of the county's achievements in environmental planning and policy, green business practices, and the delivery of community-level climate, water, and waste solutions.

Why it matters

The award highlights Thurston County's commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship, which has included adopting a comprehensive plan with specific climate-related goals, installing hundreds of heat pumps, transitioning its fleet to electric and biofuel, and making it easier for residents to install rooftop solar.

The details

The Chamber is set to recognize the county today at its Thurston Green Business Forum & Awards. The award follows a landmark year for the county highlighted by the adoption of Thurston 2045 – the county's updated comprehensive plan – which included a first-of-its-kind implementation plan that assigned specific climate-related tasks and timelines to county departments. The county also used funding from the Washington Climate Commitment Act to install more than 220 heat pumps, nearly 80% of which went to low-to-moderate-income households. Additionally, the county converted a portion of its fleet to electric and transitioned its diesel fleet to 100% biofuel, and earned the prestigious SolSmart Silver designation for eliminating its building permit requirement for rooftop residential solar installation.

  • The Chamber is set to recognize the county today at its Thurston Green Business Forum & Awards.
  • In 2025, the county and its partners installed more than 220 heat pumps throughout the county, nearly 80% of which went to low-to-moderate-income households.
  • Thurston County adopted a Home Energy Score rating labeling requirement for home sales listing set to take effect in 2027.

The players

Thurston County

The local government of Thurston County, Washington, which was recognized as the Green Municipality of the Year for its sustainability efforts.

Thurston County Chamber of Commerce

The organization that named Thurston County the Green Municipality of the Year and is hosting the Thurston Green Business Forum & Awards.

Leonard Hernandez

The Thurston County Manager who stated that being a good steward of county resources is the heart of the county's mission.

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What they’re saying

“Being a good steward of County resources is the heart of our mission. 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. We are grateful for the Chamber bringing community leaders together to tackle these challenges in a way that delivers measurable results for our community.”

— Leonard Hernandez, Thurston County Manager

What’s next

Thurston County plans to continue its sustainability efforts, including the implementation of the Thurston 2045 comprehensive plan and the continued transition to electric and biofuel vehicles in its fleet.

The takeaway

Thurston County's recognition as the Green Municipality of the Year highlights the county's commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainability, which has included innovative policies, programs, and partnerships to reduce emissions, increase renewable energy, and improve the overall sustainability of the community.