Contingent Awardees

The Washington State Department of Commerce announced $3.7 million in grants for nine solar energy projects across the state. The projects will result in a total $6.1 million reduction in the energy burden of low-income households and nonprofits serving low-income communities over 25 years. These grants will result in 2.8 megawatts (MW) of nameplate generation from new solar installations — enough solar power to serve about 322 average households per year or over 12 million electric vehicle miles.

Coastal Community Action Program (CCAP) — $243,000 to build a 121 kilowatt (kW) installation at their service center in Aberdeen. CCAP will use the energy savings from the project to offset energy costs and provide more services to qualified low-income households across Grays Harbor and Pacific Counties.

HopeSource — $170,130 to install a 101 kW solar array on the new Spurling Court affordable housing complex in Ellensburg. The production benefits will go directly to the residents of Spurling Court, and to offset the energy costs of the Spurling Court community center.

Lummi Nation — $593,898 for the installation of two solar PV systems on the Lummi Nation Administration Building and HeadStart Building, with a total capacity of 384 kW. The energy savings generated by the solar project will lower the energy burden of the Lhaq’temish Foundation, which serves over 15 school, nonprofit, and tribal programs.

Olympia Community Solar — $341,732 for the installation of a 126 kW solar system on the Merritt Manor affordable housing complex in Olympia. The generation from the solar project will offset resident electric bills.

Opportunity Council – $179,324 for the installation of a 100+ kW solar PV system on the East Whatcom Regional Resource Center (EWRRC) in Peaceful Valley. The installed system is expected to reduce the Foothills Food Bank’s annual energy costs, which will be diverted to purchasing food and supplies that they provide to the community.

Orcas Power & Light Cooperative (OPALCO) — $1 million to build a 1.2 MW community solar array on San Juan Island. OPALCO will use benefits from the array to offset the annual energy bills of Low-Income Service Providers on the three main islands, and to increase the credits provided to offset low- and moderate-income households’ monthly energy bills.

Puget Sound Energy (PSE) — $207,932 for installation of a 243 kW community solar project on the Olympia Center in Downtown Olympia. PSE will direct the benefits from the project to low-income households and affordable housing providers across Olympia, and to the nonprofit tenant of the Olympia Center.

Snohomish County Public Utility District (PUD) — $878,036 to install a community solar project in south Everett. The PUD will donate all the generation credits to Project Pride, which provides bill assistance to Snohomish County ratepayers in need.

Yakima Valley Partners (YVP) Habitat for Humanity — $112,600 to install a 119 kW solar project on the organization’s storefront in downtown Yakima. The energy savings generated over the life of the project will directly support the construction of new homes.

All of these competitive grant awards are conditional upon execution of final project agreements and performance-based contracts with Commerce. The nine conditional awards were among 12 applications, which together totaled over $4.8 million in projects.

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