2021 State Energy Strategy recognized for leading advancement of clean energy

2021 State Energy Strategy recognized for leading advancement of clean energy

“Washington demonstrated a deep commitment to meaningful community engagement and centering equity concerns.” Washington is a leader on energy and climate policy with a goal to provide an equitable clean energy economy to benefit everyone in the state — including urban and rural communities, overburdened and low-income households, and Indigenous communities. The Washington State Department of Commerce’s Energy Division received a 2022 State Leadership in Clean Energy Award from the Clean…

Commerce announces latest round of state investments in new and novel clean energy technology projects powered by diverse public-private partnerships

Commerce announces latest round of state investments in new and novel clean energy technology projects powered by diverse public-private partnerships

Competitive process identifies 10 proposed research, development and demonstration projects to receive $8.5 million in Clean Energy Fund grants OLYMPIA, WA – Making green hydrogen fuel from captured Co2, water and electricity for a quiet, clean portable alternative to diesel-powered generators. Repurposing retired electric bus batteries. Creating next-generation batteries. Recycling wind turbine blade materials to create new products. Using food and forest waste in new ways and to train workers…

Washington Community Economic Revitalization Board invests $5.1 million in four counties

Washington Community Economic Revitalization Board invests $5.1 million in four counties

Port of Pasco clean energy project, expected to create over 400 jobs, is among four projects approved for funding at the CERB January meeting. OLYMPIA, WA – The Washington State Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) today approved $3,937,996 in low-interest loans and $1,136,999 in grants for economic development and public infrastructure improvements. Projects awarded funding are located in Franklin, Jefferson, Okanogan, and Skamania counties and will spur business growth and…

Commerce announces grant to support expansion of clean tech startup with a mission of decarbonizing buildings

Commerce announces grant to support expansion of clean tech startup with a mission of decarbonizing buildings

CarbonQuest hopes expansion will create more than 100 jobs over time in the City of Spokane Valley OLYMPIA, WA — The Washington Department of Commerce today announced a $350,000 grant to support expansion of an innovative clean tech company that captures carbon emissions. CarbonQuest, headquartered in the City of Spokane Valley, has developed a patent-pending technology called Building Carbon Capture System that can capture, separate, liquefy and store carbon that…

Notifications regarding new Clean Buildings Performance Standard are in the mail; building owners encouraged to help refine agency’s data

Notifications regarding new Clean Buildings Performance Standard are in the mail; building owners encouraged to help refine agency’s data

Multifamily residential buildings such as apartment and condominium buildings are not subject to new standard OLYMPIA, WA – The Washington State Department of Commerce mailed notification letters last week to owners of large commercial buildings who might need to comply with Washington’s new Clean Buildings Performance Standard. The standard applies to certain commercial buildings larger than 50,000 gross square feet, excluding the parking garage area. The notifications are a first…

State urges owners and operators of large commercial properties to review newly-posted list of buildings subject to Washington’s first-in-nation Clean Buildings Performance Standard

State urges owners and operators of large commercial properties to review newly-posted list of buildings subject to Washington’s first-in-nation Clean Buildings Performance Standard

Building owners can also explore $75 million early adopter incentive program to get a head start on energy efficiency improvements. OLYMPIA, WA – The buildings sector is Washington state’s second-biggest carbon polluter behind transportation. Investment in building energy efficiency is the most cost-efficient way to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The solution to cutting building emissions lies in energy efficiency – the fastest, cheapest way to cut carbon emissions and…

CEF Project Highlight – OPALCO Decatur Island Microgrid

OPALCO’s Battery Storage Project was funded in part by a $1 million Grid Modernization grant from Commerce’s Clean Energy Fund (CEF). The microgrid OPALCO built on Decatur Island includes a battery storage project paired with a Community Solar Array. The battery storage project is a one-megawatt, 2.6 MWh large-scale battery that can operate independently from the grid and power approximately 500 homes for up to 4 hours. The goals of…

CEF Project Highlight – Horn Rapids Solar, Storage & Training Project in Richland

Funded in part by a $3 million grant from the Washington State Clean Energy Fund, Energy Northwest has powered up its Horn Rapids Solar, Storage & Training Project in Richland. This project provides Washington state its first opportunity to integrate a utility-scale solar and storage facility. The facility combines solar generation with battery storage and technician training. The 20-acre project provides 4 megawatts of direct-current electricity — enough energy to…

NEWS RELEASE: Solar Plus Regional Initiative Wins $2 Million Grant from US Department of Energy

NEWS RELEASE: Solar Plus Regional Initiative Wins $2 Million Grant from US Department of Energy

Three-year joint effort to develop strategies for increasing solar energy, modernizing energy infrastructure in Washington and Oregon will launch this year. OLYMPIA, Wash. — Solar Plus, a joint effort of more than a dozen stakeholder groups in Washington and Oregon has been awarded a $2,050,000 SunShot grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to further deployment of solar energy in the Pacific Northwest. It is the largest of the…