Thank you to all who joined the WA Department of Commerce’s Energy Division on December 20, 2023 for our pre-session priority briefing! We had a jam-packed meeting with a total of over 400 stakeholders from various geographies and sectors across the state. Panelists from the Energy Division’s policy team presented on a wide range of our priorities heading into the 2024 legislative session including: clean transportation, community clean energy development…
Author Archives: Becky Berg
In response to valuable feedback from the Request for Information (RFI) issued in fall 2023, as well as previous stakeholder input, Commerce is implementing a new approach that is designed to reduce barriers for applicants, maximize the construction timeline for clean energy projects and enhance equitable outcomes. In the first half of 2024, Commerce will offer clean energy funding opportunities tailored to specific applicants and project types. Tribal Clean Energy…
Hydrogen can play an important role in Washington’s economy as it transforms to eliminate use of fossil fuels for energy, but the state must prioritize it for the most strategic uses, ensure adequate supplies of clean electricity for hydrogen production, and focus on environmental justice considerations, according to a report released this week by the Washington Department of Commerce. The Department of Commerce has published a new legislative report titled…
The Equitable Access to Credit Program, authorized by HB 1015 (RCW 82.04.449) (PDF), provides a tax preference mechanism that generates funds for grants to qualified lending institutions. These grants, funded through contributions in exchange for B&O tax credits, are dedicated to providing access to credit for historically underserved communities. The Washington Department of Commerce’s Office of Economic Development and Competitiveness (OEDC) is seeking public comments and recommendations to inform the…
Domestic Manufacturing Conversion Grants – The Department of Energy has announced a $2 billion funding opportunity to expand manufacturing of electric vehicles by converting facilities to manufacture electric vehicles and components. Concept papers are due by November 1, 2023. Full applications are due January 23, 2024. Zero Emission School Bus Grant Program 2023-2025 – The Washington State Department of Ecology announces the availability of approximately $14 million in grants to help accelerate…
Through proviso funding, the Washington State Department of Commerce has been tasked with creating a grant program which would assist the community with capturing more opportunities to receive federal funding. The Washington State Department of Commerce has been provided $2,000,000 for this fiscal year (ending June 30, 2024) for: “activities related to securing federal funding from programs created by or funded through federal legislation including, but not limited to, the…
The Washington State Department of Commerce is soliciting applications from eligible entities who wish to establish new Level II or Level III recovery residences, as defined by the National Association for Recovery Residences. Eligible applicants include operators of existing recovery residences who seek to establish a new recovery residence, or non-profit behavioral health organizations seeking to establish a new recovery residence. The Washington Alliance for Quality Recovery Residences (WAQRR) will…
Notice: This program is currently accepting applications until January 10th, 2024. The Evergreen Manufacturing Growth Grants program is designed to increase the number of manufacturing and research and development jobs in Washington State. The grants support the Building Economic Strength Through Manufacturing (BEST) Act (HB 1170) passed by the state legislature in 2021 to provide a framework for adding 300,000 new manufacturing jobs over the next 10 years. The $2…
The tenth annual report prepared by Research Services on the fee revenue and expenditures related to prostitution and the commercial sexual exploitation of children.
Washington Community Charging Infrastructure Grant Program – The Washington Department of Commerce is launching the $65M electric vehicle community charging infrastructure grant program and will be accepting applications through December 1, 2023, for multi-family housing, publicly available charging, and fleet charging. Visit Washington State Electric Vehicle Charging Program website for program criteria and eligibility. The Notice of Funding Opportunity for the program opens September 6, 2023. Applications due December 1, 2023. The…