News

Centralia Coal Transition Board  Supports Regional Planning Efforts for Infrastructure Upgrades,

Centralia, Wash. (June 13, 2024) The Centralia Coal Transition Economic & Community Development Board approved a grant award in the amount of $93,750.00 to support planning for water supply upgrade efforts underway by the City of Centralia and City of Chehalis. The funding will assist with the expense in developing a detailed design of each infrastructure improvement required for water supply upgrade efforts being led by the Centralia Public Works Department.  The planning tasks include source capacity evaluation, water quality blending evaluation, wellfield treatment facility planning, transmission and storage capacity evaluation, and Centralia/Chehalis water intertie evaluation.

The Centralia Public Works Department serves drinking water to approximately 20,000 customers within the city limits, Centralia UGA and Lewis County. The primary goal of the department is to provide high quality drinking water, but in addition to that goal, they are planning for future growth and regional water needs, replacing and upgrading aging infrastructure and performing preventative maintenance on water assets.

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:

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  ,

 Economic & Community Development Board Supports Facility Safety Improvements

Centralia, Wash. (June 13, 2024) The Centralia Coal Transition Board approved a grant award in the amount of $12,561.00 to support the Rochester Youth Rodeo Association with safety improvements at the Oakville Regional Event Center. Each year the association hosts two junior rodeos which bring in approximately 120 contestants, their families, animals and spectators. The funding assisted with the installation of a new water main to allow for controlled and safer watering of the arena and new roping boxes at the proper height. All installation labor and facility preparation were donated by the organization and its volunteers.

The Rochester Youth Rodeo Association was formed approximately 20 years ago and is a local non-profit organization. Their mission is to support the growth and development of Western Washington’s youth through advancement of the western lifestyle and values.

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:

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 a $1M grant to Zap Energy,

Centralia, WA (April 26, 2024) The Centralia Coal Transition Grants Energy Technology Board is pleased to announce it has approved a second grant in the amount of $1,000,000 to Zap Energy, a Seattle, Washington based company. Zap Energy Inc. was founded in 2017 to develop and commercialize affordable, sustainable, clean energy fusion.

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.

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  ,

 Economic & Community Development Board Supports Sustainability Workforce Development

Centralia, Wash. (April 15, 2024) The Centralia Coal Transition Board approved a grant award in the amount of $175,500 to support a phase one collaboration project to establish a pathway for sustainable workforce development. The project will be led by Strategic Energy Innovations with engagement from partners in Lewis and South Thurston County. The goal of the project is to develop pathways that 1) accelerate building owners’ compliance with building efficiency standards; 2) facilitate higher education faculty engagement with topics such as building efficiency standards policy, environmental science, clean energy, HVAC and more, and 3) provide internship opportunities to residents, high school and college students.

Strategic Energy Innovations (SEI) is an environmental nonprofit consultancy that builds leaders to drive and accelerate sustainability solutions. For over 25 years SEI has partnered with schools, communities, and businesses to develop leadership pathways from elementary school to early career. SEI will work closely with the Pacific Northwest Center of Excellence for Clean Energy hosted at Centralia College and other local programs directed toward high school students in the Lewis and South Thurston County areas.

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:

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 Operations of the Business Equity Center, Website

Centralia, Wash. (April 1, 2024) The Centralia Coal Transition Board approved a grant award in the amount of $650,000 to acquire additional space to enhance the operations of the Business Equity Center located in Centralia, Washington and, to support ongoing development of various programs for existing and new small business owners. The Business Equity Center provides a comprehensive support network for current and future business owners and is a core program of the Lewis Economic Development Council.

The Business Equity Center was formed in 2021 under the leadership of the Economic Alliance of Lewis County to provide new entrepreneurs and small business owners with the tools and knowledge to plan, start, manage and grow their businesses. The Business Equity Center offers a wide range of support, including advising new startups, providing business growth guidance and connecting businesses with other local sources. The funding of this grant will enhance how the Business Equity Center can serve Lewis County.

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:

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.