Nearly 100 clean energy projects across Washington are closer to reality thanks to a $60.4 million investment from the Washington State Department of Commerce. Many of the projects, located in 33 of Washington’s 39 counties, will be online soon to reduce emissions and help lower energy bills.
“These investments demonstrate Commerce’s commitment to moving projects quickly from concept to construction,” said Commerce Interim Director Sarah Clifthorne. “I’m excited we’re helping neighborhoods become more resilient and helping make clean energy more affordable”
The 96 new awards are in addition to $16.8 million for tribal clean energy awards announced in April. In total, Commerce has invested $77.2 million in 118 community clean energy projects this spring.
The new awards are from several Commerce programs: Clean Energy Grants, Clean Energy Siting and Permitting, Thermal Energy Networks, Clean Energy Technical Assistance, and the Washington Grid Resilience Program.
Clean Energy Grants Program
Commerce awarded $34.8 million to 57 projects in 33 counties supporting solar installations, battery energy storage systems, microgrids, biomass facilities and renewable hydrogen technologies.
Many projects will provide backup power for community facilities such as schools, emergency centers and fire districts, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The program streamlines access to funding by combining multiple state funding sources into a single application.
“Skamania County Fire District 6 is an all-volunteer district remotely located on the southeast side of Mount Saint Helens in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest,” said Jerry Sauer, Fire District 6 Commissioner Chairman in Skamania County Fire Protection District 6. “This grant will supply us adequate power in catastrophic events and keep continuous power for critical communications needed for BLS (Basic Life Support) ambulance and firefighting activities.”
Clean Energy Siting and Permitting Program
Commerce awarded $3.5 million to six projects that improve local siting and permitting processes for clean energy development. Funding supports site readiness, predevelopment work, land-use studies, environmental review and staffing capacity to help communities move projects forward more efficiently.
“We are excited for the opportunity to improve our county permitting processes and standards through a Clean Energy Programmatic EIS (environmental impact statement),” said Chad Bala, Kittitas County Community Development Services director. “We appreciate the Washington State Department of Commerce providing this opportunity and look forward to a result that will simultaneously benefit the residents of our county and assist in the state’s climate initiatives.”
Clean Energy Technical Assistance
Commerce awarded technical assistance grants to 21 entities to provide no-cost feasibility studies for solar and battery projects, an estimated total value of $429,000. After the studies are complete, Commerce will identify viable, cost-effective projects for potential future legislative funding.
Thermal Energy Networks Pilot Project
Commerce awarded $4.9 million through the Thermal Energy Networks Pilot Program to support three utility-owned district energy systems.
These systems use shared underground thermal loops to deliver efficient heating and cooling to multiple buildings, replacing combustion-based systems with geothermal, solar thermal and recovered waste heat. The new systems reduce emissions, improve indoor air quality and increase resilience during extreme usage peaks, such as heat waves and cold snaps.
Washington Grid Resilience Program
Commerce conditionally awarded more than $17.1 million of state match and federal funding from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grants Program to strengthen the reliability of Washington’s electric grid against wildfires, extreme weather and other disruptions.
Participating utilities will match the funding to deploy grid-hardening technologies that reduce the number, frequency and duration of power outages. Projects prioritize upgrades to existing infrastructure and deliver benefits to historically disadvantaged communities.
"Cowlitz PUD is pleased to receive Grid Resilience funding to help keep the lights on for the rural senior citizen community of Ryderwood and reduce wildfire risk in this remote, forested area of Cowlitz County," said Cowlitz PUD General Manager Gary Huhta. "Extreme weather and high wind events have repeatedly disrupted electric service to vulnerable Ryderwood residents, resulting in extended outages when access to reliable power is needed most. Commerce's grant award will allow us to virtually eliminate these impactful outages and mitigate the risk of wildfire ignition by relocating and undergrounding five miles of the power line serving Ryderwood and nearby rural residents in Cowlitz and Lewis Counties.”
Funding for these projects comes from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grants Program, State Building Construction Account and from Washington’s Climate Commitment Act (CCA). The CCA reinvests cap-and-invest dollars that reduce climate pollution, create jobs, and improve public health. Information about the CCA is available at www.climate.wa.gov.