This 504 kW community solar array has been installed in the San Juan Islands on Decatur Island and co-located with a recently modernized substation where the primary submarine cables from the mainland terminate. With assistance from a Clean Energy Fund grant, Orcas Power and Light Cooperative (OPALCO) will be procuring additional services and assets to be located at the Decatur Island Substation. It will include a 500 kW/2.0 MWh energy storage…
We will open the Solar Deployment Program grant application period next week. It will be open to Washington-based entities developing solar generating projects. The program has $1,552,000 in state funds and $2,328,000 from U.S. Department of Energy American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds, which will be competitively awarded. Priorities will be given to: Distribution side projects Projects capable of generating at least 500 kilowatts of direct current generating capacity applicants…
Brooke Harris is our new Housing Improvements and Preservation Innovation and Program Development Manager. She has more than 20 years’ experience administering housing rehabilitation programs for local governments. Brooke developed a housing program for the city of San Ramon, California that won national recognition as a best practice model and a state award for promoting social equity and environmental justice. Brooke contracted with Neighborhood Works as a reviewer evaluating and…
The Energy Division’s, Energy Contracts and Programs (ECAP) Unit anticipates opening the Energy Efficiency and Solar Grants application period by the end of August. The application period will be open for a minimum of six weeks. A bidder’s conference will be announced and held as a webinar. As we receive questions, we will publish and update a Frequently Asked Questions document. For more information on the grants, please visit: https://www.commerce.wa.gov/growing-the-economy/energy/energy-efficiency-and-solar-grants/
Commerce has published a Notice of Funding Opportunity for eligible Energy Research, Development and Demonstration (RD&D) projects under the Clean Energy Fund program. Applicant’s must be Washington-based entities seeking funds for clean energy projects. Initial applications are due on Aug. 31, 2018. All documents can be found on the Energy RD&D webpage at https://www.commerce.wa.gov/growing-the-economy/energy/clean-energy-fund/energy-rdd-clean-energy-fund/
By Glenn Blackmon, Ph.D. Washington’s Energy Independence Act (EIA) requires that electric utilities over a certain size use renewable resources for a portion of the energy that they deliver to their retail customers. The EIA provides flexibility to utilities in the renewable resources that they can use to meet this requirement. However, like every other state renewable portfolio standard (RPS), the EIA also includes limitations on eligibility. Not just any…
The State Energy Office is accepting grant applications for the Research, Development and Demonstration (RD&D) Program from Washington-based entities seeking funds for clean energy projects. Application period ends on Aug. 31, 2018. This program is part of the Clean Energy Fund 3 (CEF 3) and appears in Section 1013 of Substitute Senate Bill 6090 of the Capital Budget. In this program, $7,614,500 will be competitively awarded. Commerce consulted and coordinated…
Commerce likes to take a collaborative approach to strengthening communities. The new rule regarding alternative fuel types in government vehicles is one such example, where we don’t have the authority or resources to enforce the rule. Using outreach and education, we’re asking local governments to self-report their vehicle purchases according to RCW 43.19.648. The law, amended in 2013, requires local governments to fuel publicly owned vehicles, vessels and construction equipment…
Staff at the office, along with folks from Ecology, visited the Klickitat County PUD1 site for a closed-loop pump storage hydropower project at the John Day pool. This is being funded in part by the Clean Energy Fund through appropriations by the 2018 legislature. A closed loop system consists of two reservoirs at different elevations, and apart from a free flowing water source, such as a river. They have fewer…
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer awards have been announced for 2018 Phase 1, Release 2. Congratulations to the following grantees: Molecule Works, Inc., Richland WA (Concentration and Dewatering of micro-algae cultures with high throughput ceramic membranes.) Artesion, Inc., Federal Way WA (Development of an Environmentally acceptable Hydraulic Fluid.) Clearsign Combustion Corp., Seattle WA (Low Temperature Plasma Flame Stabilization in a…