Commerce grants $3.5 million to help public buildings cut energy costs, reduce pollution and showcase solar in communities across the state.
OLYMPIA, WA – The Washington State Department of Commerce today announced $3.5 million in grants to state and local government agencies to install solar panels at public buildings in communities throughout the state. The 29 projects will provide over 2.2 megawatts of solar and will produce more than 3 million kWh annually—enough to power about 280 homes.
Solar grants provide competitive funding to install solar at public buildings and facilities, such as schools, hospitals, community centers and wastewater treatment plants. Washington’s 2021 State Energy Strategy identifies community-owned solar as an important strategy for achieving clean energy and equity goals, especially for Tribal communities and agricultural communities. It also urges state and local agencies to lead by example with clean energy investments for public buildings that build local resilience.
“Supporting solar projects in public buildings is one of the many ways Washington state is leading by example as we work toward meeting our goal of 100% clean electricity by 2050,” said Commerce Director Lisa Brown. “These grants prioritized projects in rural and Tribal communities, to ensure all state residents benefit from a cleaner more efficient electric grid.”
Students from Highline High School’s Environmental Club were instrumental in fundraising and grant writing that helped Highline Public Schools win a $110,100 grant to install solar panels on the new school building in Burien. Pictured are 2021 HHS graduates and current students along with their advisors and partners in the grant: Rod Sheffer, former executive director, Capital Planning & Construction (a 1969 HHS graduate); mentors Jodi Escareño and Elly-Hien Trinh of Sustainable Burien; students Samantha Quiroz, Jordan Powers (current club president), Gladis Gallardo, Brenda Gallardo, Selena Nguyen, Nha Khuc (former club president), Ruth Assefa, Kim Nguyen and Ricardo Gonzalez Ceja.
The awarded projects include three by Tribal governments and five projects in small communities with populations under 5,000. These grants will fund distributed clean energy for schools, affordable housing and critical public facilities in Washington’s communities:
“I congratulate the students from the Highline High School Environmental Club and their community partners, for instigating and electrifying efforts to raise funds and write grants to build their dream of a 100-kilowatt solar power installation on the roof of our new high school building,” said Scott Logan, chief operations officer of Highline Public Schools. “Thank you to the Department of Commerce for helping fund their dream of a better future.”
“This generous grant is a huge support to us in the services we provide our citizens,” said Tom Wooten, Samish Tribal Chairman. “We are honored to be selected as a recipient of the Commerce Solar Grant, which is doing so much to remove barriers to critical resources in our community while providing the opportunity to decrease our carbon footprint through use of solar energy.”
”With this grant from the Department of Commerce, Connell can reduce the costs of providing city services while reducing environmental impact and supporting clean energy jobs. We are thrilled to accept this grant and excited to demonstrate clean energy in our community,” said Connell Mayor Lee Barrow
This competitively scored grant process prioritized projects with lower costs and higher savings, as well as matching funds provided by applicants and new grantees. Brown noted that ensuring equitable distribution of available funds is a key priority of all Commerce programs. Another approximately $1 million for solar projects will be awarded through this program in 2022. The next application cycle is expected to open in the first quarter this year.
Solar grants are one of several funding opportunities under Commerce’s Energy Retrofits for Public Buildings program, which provides grants to towns, cities, Tribes and other state and local governments to make energy updates to community buildings and facilities. To learn more and stay up to date on the next applications visit www.commerce.wa.gov/growing-the-economy/energy/energy-retrofits-for-public-buildings/
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