Across Washington, communities are turning clean energy plans into reality.
From rural towns to urban neighborhoods, nearly 100 projects are moving forward with support from a $60.6 million investment by the Washington State Department of Commerce. Spanning 32 counties, these projects are designed to cut greenhouse gas emissions, lower energy costs for residents and strengthen the reliability of local power systems.
The latest round of 96 awards builds on momentum from earlier this spring, when Commerce announced $16.8 million in clean energy funding for tribal communities. Together, these investments bring the state’s total to $77.4 million supporting 118 community-led projects — a growing effort to expand access to affordable, reliable clean energy across Washington.
The new awards are from several Commerce programs: Clean Energy Grants, Clean Energy Siting and Permitting, Thermal Energy Networks and the Washington Grid Resilience Program.
Expanding access to clean energy statewide
Clean Energy Grants Program
Commerce awarded 35.1 million to 57 projects in 32 counties supporting solar installations, battery energy storage systems, microgrids, biomass facilities and renewable hydrogen technologies.
Many of these projects will provide backup power for community facilities such as schools, emergency centers and fire districts, while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The program simplifies access to funding by combining multiple state funding sources into a single application.
“This grant will supply Skamania County Fire District 6 with power in catastrophic events and keep continuous power for critical communications needed for BLS (Basic Life Support) ambulance and firefighting activities.” – Jerry Sauer, chairman of Fire District 6
Clean Energy Technical Assistance
Commerce awarded technical assistance grants to 21 entities, providing no-cost feasibility studies for solar and battery projects with an estimated total value of $429,000. After the studies are complete, Commerce will identify viable, cost-effective projects for potential future legislative funding.
Clean Energy Siting and Permitting Program
Commerce awarded $3.5 million to six projects that improve local siting and permitting processes for clean energy development. Funding supports site readiness, predevelopment work, land-use studies, environmental review and staffing capacity to help communities move projects forward more efficiently.
“We appreciate the Washington State Department of Commerce providing this opportunity and look forward to a result that will simultaneously benefit the residents of our county and assist in the state’s climate initiatives.” – Chad Bala, director of Kittitas County Community Development Services
Advancing innovative energy systems
Thermal Energy Networks Pilot Program
Commerce awarded $4.9 million through the Thermal Energy Networks Pilot Program to support three utility-owned district energy systems.
These systems use shared underground thermal loops to deliver efficient heating and cooling to multiple buildings. By replacing combustion-based systems with geothermal, solar thermal and recovered waste heat, these projects reduce emissions, improve indoor air quality and increase resilience during extreme weather events.
Strengthening Washington’s electric grid
Washington Grid Resilience Program
Commerce conditionally awarded more than $17.1 million of state match and federal funding from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grants Program. Funding depends on final DOE approval.
Participating utilities will match these funds to put grid-hardening technologies into place that reduce the number, frequency and duration of power outages. Projects prioritize upgrades to existing infrastructure and deliver benefits to historically disadvantaged communities.
“Commerce’s grant award will allow us to virtually eliminate outages caused by extreme weather events and mitigate the risk of wildfire for vulnerable Ryderwood residents.” − Gary Huhta, Cowlitz PUD general manager
Funding for these projects comes from the, U.S. Department of Energy’s Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grants Program, State Building Construction Account and from Washington’s Climate Commitment Act (CCA), which reinvests cap-and-invest dollars that reduce climate pollution, create jobs, and improve public health. Information about the CCA is available at www.climate.wa.gov.