The grants were awarded to local governments, schools and state agencies for 39 proposed projects across the state that will increase energy efficiency and solar energy use and reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.
Energy Efficiency
The state awarded $7.1 million for 28 proposed projects that are expected to save over $1.4 million in energy costs and over five million gallons of water per year. In addition, an estimated 6,800 metric tons of CO2 emissions will be avoided – equivalent to removing 1,500 vehicles from the road. Among the proposed projects are replacing plug-in space heaters at a treatment plant office building and propane heating equipment at another facility with controllable heat pump technology. Another project will install a new dedicated heat recovery system that will integrate with the existing energy management system to reduce heating and cooling runtime hours by more than 60%.
Solar Energy
Approximately $1.7 million will be invested in 11 proposed solar projects that, once operational, will generate enough power to save over $80,000 in energy costs and over 450 metric tons of CO2 emissions per year. Eight of the projects have been awarded a total of nearly $1.6 million in contingent co-funding from the TransAlta Centralia Coal Transition grant program.
As Representative Beth Doglio noted, “the energy efficiency and solar grants program shows that Washington state can ‘walk the walk’ when it comes to green infrastructure by making upgrades that also save taxpayers money. Together with new policy initiatives related to green buildings and appliance efficiency standards, we’ll continue leading the way to reduce carbon pollution and energy use.”
Read the full press release and list of projects here. For additional information on the energy efficiency and solar grant program, or to view current grant opportunities, visit www.commerce.wa.gov.
Note: The above was adapted from the June 4, 2019 Washington State Department of Commerce press release.