Washington Tribes Receive Millions from State for Clean Energy

(The Center Square) – Washington officials announced Tuesday that the state will donate $7.5 million in carbon auction revenues to five tribal initiatives.

The funding is part of the state’s Tribal Clean Energy grant program, which will provide $16 million in funding generated under the Climate Commitment Act over its lifetime.

CCA is a state program aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The cap and trade program, passed in 2021, allows entities to purchase “emissions credits,” which the state then uses to finance clean energy and environmental justice projects. According to the predecessor reportage from Central Squareover $2 billion has been raised since his death.

“The Climate Commitment Act recognizes that communities will not be equally affected by climate change,” said Department of Commerce Director Mike Fong in a speech Press Release. “We know that in the past the government assumed it knew best when it came to community needs, so we are deliberately reversing that thought process. We hope this is the first of many funding opportunities that directly respond to what people tell us they need.”

According to the Department of Commerce, projects funded in this first round of funding include:

“Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation – Solar Panels Community Center, Oakville: $251,000 to build a 121 kW roof-mounted solar array for the tribal community center and to complete a feasibility study to add battery storage at the center in the future.
Cowlitz Indian Tribe – Phase II Resilient Energy and Supplemental Energy Project, Longview: $1.7 million to build a 100 kW solar array and battery energy storage system in administrative buildings and clinics to power the buildings and provide additional energy for charging electric vehicles.
Spokane Indian Tribe – Western Nuclear Farm Project, Wellpinit: $90,000 to assess the feasibility of reusing the tribe’s historic uranium mine to generate solar energy.
Willapa Bay Enterprises – Ocean Wave Renewable Technology Demonstration Project, Tokeland: $2,744,507 to support the design, permitting, siting and construction of zero-emissions hydrogen generation technologies from ocean wave energy.
Yakama Power – Canal Solar Project, Toppenish: $2.75 million to support permitting, environmental review and pre-development of an innovative 200-MW solar project on the canal that generates $160 million in federal and state funds.

“This is a great opportunity for the Chehalis Tribe and the Department of Commerce to work together on the common goal of reducing our carbon footprint in Washington State,” Tribal Chairman Dustin Klatush said in a news release. “The tribe’s use of solar panels at our Community Center will provide immediate results toward achieving this goal, while also initiating a feasibility study to develop additional strategies for the future. This award is truly a win-win.”

While Tuesday’s announcement included only the first round of funding, the Department of Commerce will provide additional community decarbonization grants in the coming weeks.