Clean energy projects in Central and SE Washington receive state funding

WASHINGTON — The Washington State Department of Commerce announced $60.3 million for 95 clean energy projects including several across the Columbia Basin and Central Washington.

Commerce said the awards came through its Clean Energy Grants, Clean Energy Siting and Permitting, Thermal Energy Networks and Washington Grid Resilience Program to lower energy costs, cut greenhouse gas emissions and support more reliable local power systems.

The agency said the latest round followed $16.8 million announced earlier in the spring for tribal communities.

The largest share in this round came from the Clean Energy Grants Program. 

Commerce said it awarded $34.8 million to 56 projects supporting solar, battery storage, microgrids, biomass facilities and renewable hydrogen technology.

In Benton County, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Benton and Franklin Counties in Kennewick received $1,007,732 for clubhouse solar panels, while the City of Richland received $900,000 for a master plan tied to future clean energy facility development.

In Yakima County, Heritage University in Toppenish received $1,031,861 for a solar and battery storage project, and SHC Medical Center in Toppenish received $962,635 for the Astria Toppenish Hospital solar project. 

Other awards included $601,756 for Walla Walla School District #140 to install a solar array for the school and its electric bus fleet and $2.5 million for Stellar J Corporation in Pasco to install an anaerobic digestion system.

Kittitas County Community Development Services received $790,000 for a countywide environmental impact statement tied to permitting and siting decisions.

“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,” said Chad Bala, director of Kittitas County Community Development Services.

Awards list for Benton, Franklin, Yakima, Walla Walla and Kittitas Counties:

• Stellar J Corporation Pasco ($2,500,000) — Installation of an anaerobic digestion system
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Benton and Franklin Counties ($1,007,732) — Kennewick Clubhouse solar panels
• City of Richland ($900,000) — Master plan supporting future siting and development of clean energy facilities.
• Fleet Development LLC Prosser — ($276,558) Rooftop solar on a rural multifamily affordable housing property
• Kittitas County Community Development Services — ($790,000)  Countywide Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to streamline permitting and guide siting decisions
• Washington State University Tri-Cities ($100,000) — Plan, design and conduct feasibility studies for solar canopy systems over Kennewick Irrigation District irrigation canals
• Walla Walla School District #140 ($601,756) Install a solar array for the school and the electric bus fleet
• Granger School District ($583,652) — Solar array at Granger High School
• Granger School District ($524,552) — Solar array at Granger Middle School
• Granger School District ($566,731)- Solar array at Roosevelt Elementary School
• East Valley School District No. 90 ($598,683) — Moxee Elementary School solar project
• Heritage University Toppenish ($1,031,861) — Heritage University solar and battery storage project
• SHC Medical Center Toppenish ($962,635) — Astria Toppenish Hospital solar project
• The Office of Rural and Farmworker Housing Yakima ($84,250) — Install solar on the nonprofit’s office building
• East Valley School District No. 90 ($492,261) — East Valley Elementary School solar project