News

Centralia Coal Transition Board awards grant to support energy and economic growth project in Chehalis, Washington,

Centralia, (April 10, 2026) The Centralia Coal Transition Grants Energy Technology Board is pleased to announce it has approved a grant award to CleanFiber, Inc. in the amount of $400,000.00 to support a liquid fire-retardant system for advanced carbon-negative cellulose insulation manufacturing plant in Chehalis, Washington.

The production facility will manufacture an advanced form of carbon-negative cellulose insulation entirely from recycled cardboard and will double the company’s current production capacity in the U.S. Significant effort has already been expended to select an ideal site, create detailed site and project plans, and secure funding for the project. The company goal is to move the project forward which once fully operational the facility would annually divert 19,000 tons of paper mill waste that is currently landfilled, and 5,000 tons of this same waste from incineration.

CleanFiber Inc. was founded in 2009 to develop high-performance, carbon-negative cellulose insulation. CleanFiber’s advanced carbon-negative insultation reduces carbon emissions across its entire process, from its feedstock to its ultimate end using improving building energy efficiency. CleanFiber proposes establishing a 100,000 square foot production facility in Chehalis, Washington to manufacture an advanced form of carbon-negative cellulose insulation entirely from recycled cardboard. The project will leverage existing infrastructure at the chosen site, provide job opportunities and enhance community partnerships.

The Energy Technology Board was formed as a result of the 2011 Agreement between TransAlta and the state of Washington. This agreement allowed the Centralia plant to move away from coal-fired operations with one unit retiring in December 2020 and the second unit in December 2025. TransAlta is investing $55 million in Lewis and South Thurston counties and the state of Washington through the Coal Transition Boards.

About Centralia Coal Transition Funding Boards

Overview of the Centralia Coal Transition Funding Boards:

Weatherization Board ($10M): established to fund energy efficiency and weatherization for the residents, employees, business, non-profit organizations and local governments within Lewis County and South Thurston County; up to $1 million shall be allocated to fund residential energy efficiency and weatherization measures for low-income and moderate-income residents of Lewis County and South Thurston County;

Economic & Community Development Board ($20M): established to fund education, retraining, economic development, and community enhancement; at least $5M shall be allocated to fund education, retraining and economic development specifically targeting the needs of workers displaced from the Centralia facility;

Energy Technology Board ($25M): established to fund energy technologies with the potential to create environmental benefits to the state of Washington.

Centralia Coal Transition Board Awards Grant to Centralia College Foundation Supporting Student Learning Through the Mobile Classroom,

Centralia, (June 15, 2026) The Centralia Coal Transition Grants Economic & Community Development Board has approved a $100,000.00 grant to the Centralia College Foundation to enhance Centralia College’s mobile classroom program. Equipped with simulators and machinery, the classroom provides outreach to middle and high schools within the College’s service district.

The project aims to inspire students to explore education and careers in the trades while continuing and expanding their mobile classroom experience. Building on the Board’s previous grant funding for the project, this award supports a dedicated coordinator for the next two academic years, allowing more students to participate.

The Centralia College Foundation is a premier fund-raising organization, which actively stimulates the community to invest through it, the funds and other assets and energies needed for Centralia College and its students. With this effort the Foundation will help perpetuate the college and help it operate at a level far above that which can be achieved using only state and federal funding.

The Economic & Community Development Board was formed as a result of the 2011 Agreement between TransAlta and the state of Washington. This agreement allowed the Centralia plant to move away from coal-fired operations with one unit retiring in December 2020 and the second unit in December 2025. TransAlta is investing $55 million into Lewis and South Thurston counties and the state of Washington through the Coal Transition Boards.

About Centralia Coal Transition Funding Boards

Overview of the Centralia Coal Transition Funding Boards:

Weatherization Board ($10M): established to fund energy efficiency and weatherization for the residents, employees, business, non-profit organizations and local governments within Lewis County and South Thurston County; up to $1 million shall be allocated to fund residential energy efficiency and weatherization measures for low-income and moderate-income residents of Lewis County and South Thurston County;

Economic & Community Development Board ($20M): established to fund education, retraining, economic development, and community enhancement; at least $5M shall be allocated to fund education, retraining and economic development specifically targeting the needs of workers displaced from the Centralia facility;

Energy Technology Board ($25M): established to fund energy technologies with the potential to create environmental benefits to the state of Washington.

Centralia Coal Transition Board awards grant to support University of Washington Research & Development Project,

Centralia, WA (April 15, 2026) The Centralia Coal Transition Grants Energy Technology Board is pleased to announce it has approved a grant award to the University of Washington to support a research and development project to establish a process to produce high value nanocellulose from sawmill residuals at the Cascade Hardwood sawmill in Chehalis, Washington. The grant award of $98,512.00 will allow the UW Bioresource Science and Engineering team to build on the extensive nanocellulose research already completed to demonstrate the benefits of establishing a nanocellulose biorefinery in Lewis County, Washington.

The University of Washington (UW) is the premier research institution of the Pacific Northwest. The Bioresource and Engineering (BSE) program is an engineering program within UW. The BSE program does teaching and research in the general area of process design and operations for conversion of biomass into products, fuels, and chemicals. BSE graduates work in production facilities such as pulp and paper mills, for engineering firms, sustainability groups in companies using biomass feedstocks.

The Energy Technology Board was formed as a result of the 2011 Agreement between TransAlta and the state of Washington. This agreement allowed the Centralia plant to move away from coal-fired operations with one unit retiring in December 2020 and the second unit in December 2025. TransAlta is investing $55 million into Lewis and South Thurston counties and the state of Washington through the Coal Transition Board.

About Centralia Coal Transition Funding Boards

Overview of the Centralia Coal Transition Funding Boards:

Weatherization Board ($10M): established to fund energy efficiency and weatherization for the residents, employees, business, non-profit organizations and local governments within Lewis County and South Thurston County; up to $1 million shall be allocated to fund residential energy efficiency and weatherization measures for low-income and moderate-income residents of Lewis County and South Thurston County;

Economic & Community Development Board ($20M): established to fund education, retraining, economic development, and community enhancement; at least $5M shall be allocated to fund education, retraining and economic development specifically targeting the needs of workers displaced from the Centralia facility;

Energy Technology Board ($25M): established to fund energy technologies with the potential to create environmental benefits to the state of Washington.

 Centralia Coal Transition Board awards grant to support electric vehicle training program,

Centralia, (March 5, 2026) The Centralia Coal Transition Grants Energy Technology Board is pleased to announce it has approved a grant award to New Market Skills Center Foundation in the amount of $5,000.00 to support the electric vehicle training program. The grant funds will be used to purchase an electric car which will be the basis for the training program for electric vehicles. The balance of the funds required for the vehicle will be provided by the organization and the Charities Aid Foundation of America through Enterprise/Taylor Charitable Entities. This additional funding will support milestones and deliverables in connection with the project.

New Market Skills Center opened in 1986 as an educational venture between local school districts and is a public school offering technical training for high school students.  New Market is a consortium of 12 districts including Adna, Centralia, Napavine, North Thurston, Oakville, Olympia, Rainier, Rochester, Shelton, Tenino, Tumwater, and Yelm.   The vision is to prepare students for post-secondary education, apprenticeships, or entrance into the workforce by offering the opportunity to be trained in technical career areas too expensive for a single district to fund. Students are transported to New Market from their home high schools. They spend half their day at the sending school and half at the skills center.

The Energy Technology Board was formed as a result of the 2011 Agreement between TransAlta and the state of Washington. This agreement allowed for the Centralia plant to move away from coal-fired operations with one unit retiring in December 2020 and the second unit in December 2025. TransAlta is investing $55 million into Lewis and South Thurston counties and the state of Washington through the Coal Transition Boards.

About Centralia Coal Transition Funding Boards

Overview of the Centralia Coal Transition Funding Boards:

Weatherization Board ($10M): established to fund energy efficiency and weatherization for the residents, employees, business, non-profit organizations and local governments within Lewis County and South Thurston County; up to $1 million shall be allocated to fund residential energy efficiency and weatherization measures for low-income and moderate-income residents of Lewis County and South Thurston County;

Economic & Community Development Board ($20M): established to fund education, retraining, economic development, and community enhancement; at least $5M shall be allocated to fund education, retraining and economic development specifically targeting the needs of workers displaced from the Centralia facility;

Energy Technology Board ($25M): established to fund energy technologies with the potential to create environmental benefits to the state of Washington.

Centralia Coal Transition Board Supports Lewis County Young Professionals,

Centralia, (February 13, 2026) The Centralia Coal Transition Economic & Community Development Board approved a grant award in the amount of $100,000.00 to support a leadership development program for young professionals who live or work in Lewis County. The program will include workshops and development ranging from networking, community and workforce development, and regional industries, culminating in a final capstone project.

The Lewis County Young Professionals is an organization dedicated to empowering and connecting individuals under the age of 40 who live or work in Lewis Cunty. Their mission is to cultivate a community of young professionals that represent the diverse backgrounds and industries within the region. The organization offers monthly networking events, hosting workshops and supports local philanthropic programs such as fundraising for local nonprofits.

The Economic & Community Development Board was formed as part of the 2011 Agreement between TransAlta and the state of Washington to transition the Centralia plant away from coal-fired operations with one unit retiring in December 2020 and the second unit in December 2025.

Overview of the Centralia Coal Transition Funding Boards:

Annual payments for the funding boards began in 2012 with the last payment due December 31, 2023. The opportunity to start flowing dollars into projects became effective December 31, 2015.

Weatherization Board ($10M): established to fund energy efficiency and weatherization for the residents, employees, business, non-profit organizations and local governments within Lewis County and South Thurston County; up to $1 million shall be allocated to fund residential energy efficiency and weatherization measures for low-income and moderate-income residents of Lewis County and South Thurston County;

Economic & Community Development Board ($20M): established to fund education, retraining, economic development, and community enhancement; at least $5M shall be allocated to fund education, retraining and economic development specifically targeting the needs of workers displaced from the Centralia facility;

Energy Technology Board ($25M): established to fund energy technologies with the potential to create environmental benefits to the state of Washington.