Commerce invests $37 million in 46 clean energy projects across Washington state – Washington State Department of Commerce

Investments enabled by Washington’s Climate Commitment Act advance clean tech innovation and state climate goals

OLYMPIA, WA – The Washington State Department of Commerce today announced 46 grants funded by the Washington Climate Commitment Act with additional state funding to boost clean energy technology innovation and support clean energy planning, design and construction projects throughout the state. A total of $37 million awarded through two clean energy programs furthers the goals of Washington’s 2021 State Energy Strategy.

“Communities all over Washington will benefit now and in the future from these strategic investments in clean energy,” said Commerce Director Mike Fong. “The wide range of projects funded reflect the state’s overarching climate goals to create economic opportunities and jobs, reduce reliance on fossil fuels, increase power supply reliability and resilience, reduce emissions, and strengthen the clean technology supply chain.”

One set of grant awards continues Washington state’s investments to support research, development and demonstration of new technologies that improve the production, use, storage and transportation of energy. A second set will fund a wide variety of projects to promote clean energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including activities that modernize the electric grid, promote solar energy, enhance community resilience, support low-income communities, and facilitate siting and permitting of new clean energy projects.

Both grant programs considered projects that benefit overburdened communities and vulnerable populations, including tribes and communities with high environmental or energy burdens.

$14 million for Research, Development and Demonstration. Awarded projects fund multiple new and developing technologies, ranging from low-head turbines to create hydropower, to several different carbon capture technologies, to low-carbon concrete products. Grants will benefit communities statewide, including in eastern Washington, the Puget Sound, and coastal communities.

“Siemens Energy’s Turbo Heater is a novel technology that generates high-temperature process heat without burning fuel, which will lead to decarbonization of the pulp and paper industry and other hard-to-abate sectors with sizable emissions,” said Jim Hochstein, Siemens Energy Program Manager. “Teaming with the state on this project is a great opportunity to advance our technology and support the global energy transition.”

$23 million general solicitation for clean energy projects. Responding to input and feedback, Commerce redesigned a significant portion of clean energy grant funding to consolidate and streamline the application process, and assist in matching eligible projects with available funds. This general grant solicitation pooled funding and enabled a single application across all eligible applicants and project types.

Watch a video about these Commerce investments in Energy Programs in Communities (YouTube)

Approximately $29 million of this funding is provided by Washington’s Climate Commitment Act (CCA), supplemented with additional state funding for energy projects. The CCA supports Washington’s climate action efforts by putting cap-and-invest dollars to work reducing climate pollution, creating jobs, and improving public health. Information about the CCA is available at www.climate.wa.gov.

Another round of clean energy grants focused on tribal communities in Washington state will be announced in coming weeks.