Commerce is now accepting applications for $4.85 million in Clean Energy Siting and Permitting (CESP) grants to help local governments and tribes improve the siting and permitting of clean energy projects across Washington state.
The CESP program funds planning and process improvements that reduce barriers, streamline reviews, and help communities prepare for clean energy projects such as solar, wind, and energy storage. Eligible activities include predevelopment work for potential sites, land use studies, planning efforts such as planned actions or programmatic environmental impact statements, and hiring staff to make the permitting process faster and more predictable.
Eligibility guidelines
Eligible applicants
- Port districts
- Counties, cities and towns
- Special-purpose districts
- Other municipal or quasi-municipal corporations
- Federally recognized tribes
Commerce will prioritize grants based on project readiness, recent or active clean energy siting and permitting activities, and alignment with proviso goals.
Eligible projects
Projects must directly improve clean energy siting and permitting processes in Washington. Examples include:
- Pre-development work for clean energy project sites
- Land use studies and planned actions
- Programmatic environmental impact statements (EIS)
- Hiring staff or consultants to speed up permitting
- Improving permitting workflows and interagency coordination
Priority will be given to:
- Applicants that demonstrate project readiness with a detailed plan to start immediately upon award.
- Applicants that present clear objectives with a feasible, detailed plan including necessary pre-development and feasibility work.
- Projects that focus specifically on clean energy siting and permitting within Washington.
- Tribes and their authorized representatives.
- For applicants other than tribes, applicants that have received, reviewed or proposed a permitting application since 2022 for clean energy projects of at least 10 megawatt (MW) capacity (renewable, non-emitting, energy storage, or a combination).
How to apply
- See the program documents (on Box) for application instructions and materials, conference slides and recordings, and Q&A documents.
This opportunity is supported with funding from Washington’s Climate Commitment Act. The CCA supports Washington’s climate action efforts by putting cap-and-invest dollars to work reducing climate pollution, creating jobs, and improving public health. Information about the CCA is available at www.climate.wa.gov.