From feasibility studies to EV charging infrastructure, Commerce helped fund a range of clean energy projects
For the Tulalip Tribes, planning for the future means protecting what matters most: elders, children and the strength of the community. On the Tulalip Reservation in Snohomish County, that vision is taking shape through clean energy and resilience projects designed to keep critical facilities powered during emergencies and help the tribe prepare for a changing climate.
Inside the Tulalip Tribes Gathering Hall. Photo Courtesy of Tulalip Tribes.
These projects are part of a larger effort to build a sustainable future.
The Tulalip Tribes, comprised of about 5,500 members, own Quil Ceda Village, a municipality within the reservation that includes the Quil Ceda Village Business Park, home to the Tulalip Resort Casino and Seattle Premium Outlets. Together, those destinations attract about six million visitors each year, creating important economic opportunities for the tribe.
Tulalip’s long-term vision reaches beyond commercial growth. Tribal leaders are also focused on expanding housing, protecting food systems, and strengthening energy security across the reservation so future generations can thrive.
Powering resilience with a microgrid
A key part of the vision is the development of a resilience microgrid to provide reliable power for essential community facilities.
Steve Hinton has worked with tribal governments for nearly 30 years and supports the Tulalip Tribes through the Treaty Rights and Government Affairs Office. Although he’s not a tribal member, he works closely with Tulalip Tribal leaders to develop climate adaptation and energy security strategies.
Hinton values the partnerships that have been instrumental in helping the tribe move projects forward. “The Climate Commitment Act and the Department of Commerce have become key partners in helping advance these projects,” said Hinton.
In addition, the Washington State Department of Ecology, Snohomish PUD and federal funding programs have also helped bring clean energy projects to life.
Commerce funded the first feasibility study, conducted in partnership with Snohomish County Public Utility, Washington State University and the University of Washington. It helped the tribe develop the vision for a multi-node resilience microgrid that can keep power flowing during outages and extreme weather events.
A multiphase approach to support multiple facilities
From 2023 to 2025, Commerce funded four microgrid projects totaling $4.93 million to support several critical community facilities including the Village of Hope, the Gathering Hall and the Tulalip Betty J Taylor Early Learning Academy.
The microgrid development will build toward a multi-node resiliency hub and expand the system to additional facilities. The Gathering Hall serves as a resilience hub during power outages and extreme weather events like snowstorms. Phase 1 of the microgrid project focuses on equipping the facility with a 240-kilowatt rooftop solar array and a 1-megawatt/1-megawatt-hour battery energy storage system.
Commerce recently awarded an additional $200,000 for Phase 2 design, and construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2027.
The second deployment phase will extend the microgrid to the Tulalip Betty J. Taylor Early Learning Academy and the Health Care Clinic, and Phase 3 will include an additional energy system and grid infrastructure expansion. This will generate approximately 48,296 kilowatt-hours of electricity annually to support the Tulalip Tribes Senior Center and Marina as parts of the multimode resiliency microgrid.
Tulalip Tribes Senior Center. Photo courtesy of Tulalip Tribes.
Strengthening housing and community for future generations
Energy resilience is being integrated into various projects across the reservation. Tulalip Tribes received a State Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates Program (HEAR ) grant in 2024 for rebates that apply toward high-efficiency electric equipment and appliances like heat pumps, cooking equipment, and electric panel and wiring upgrades.
The tribe also plans to use Tribal Climate Resiliency Funding provided through Commerce to outfit up to five homes each year for tribal elders with rooftop solar energy systems to improve efficiency and reduce long-term energy costs. Leadership hopes to add battery storage systems in the future as funding becomes available.
An additional feasibility study explored opportunities for community solar to support a planned housing development on the reservation. Construction on the development is expected to begin in 2027 and will provide homes for 50 individuals and families.
Expanded EV charging
The Tulalip Tribes are also investing in transportation electrification, starting with funding from Commerce. In 2024, Commerce awarded $1.98 million through the Washington Electric Vehicle Charging Program (WAEVCP) to install charging infrastructure at six locations across the reservation.
When complete, the project will fund about 58 charging ports at six public locations on the reservation, which will be available to the broader community. This includes 44 Level 2 ports and 14 Level 3 ports.
Expanding opportunities for resilience
Tribal leaders are considering several more resilience projects, like energy systems that support sewer treatment plants, resilient pump stations and water lift systems, as well as expanding their dairy manure digester operation in Monroe.
The tribe is also exploring opportunities to redevelop the Tulalip Landfill Superfund Site, a former commercial and industrial waste landfill located on North Ebey Island in the Snohomish River delta between Marysville and Everett. Tribal leaders are evaluating whether the brownfield site could host a future solar project, turning a once-polluted landscape into a new source of clean energy for the community.
Together, these efforts reflect the Tulalip Tribes’ long-term vision: building resilient infrastructure that supports elders, strengthens community services, and prepares future generations for a sustainable energy future.