Southwest Washington cities, counties, municipal utilities and state and federally recognized tribes will receive more than $2.3 million in grant funding to support electrification of homes and businesses.
On Thursday, The Washington state Department of Commerce announced in a news release that, statewide, the agency would contribute nearly $40 million to projects and programs that promote high-efficiency electric equipment. The money was awarded through funding by the Climate Commitment Act.
According to the Commerce Department, the agency received 35 applications for the funding, which amounted to more than $82 million. The funding was awarded through a focus on helping meet Washington’s equity and environmental justice goals.
“From heat domes to many days of below-freezing temperatures, tens of thousands of Washington residents are put at risk each year by these increasing weather extremes,” Commerce Director Mike Fong said in the release. “Investing these Climate Commitment Act funds gives communities more opportunities to start or increase incentive programs that will help reduce the use of fossil fuels and create healthier, more resilient and energy efficient homes and buildings through electrification.”
According to the Commerce Department, municipalities and tribes in Southwest Washington that will receive funding include:
• $508,940 to the Cowlitz Indian Tribe Housing Department
• $481,483 to the City of Olympia
• $477,540 to the City of Tumwater
• $472,263 to Thurston County
• $269,238 to the Nisqually Indian Tribe
• $95,009 to the City of Tenino
Earlier this week, the Commerce Department announced five tribes would receive $7.5 million in grant funding, part of $16 million earmarked for tribal clean energy projects. In that funding announcement, the Department of Commerce said tribes in Southwest Washington would receive more than $4.5 million.
