News

Centralia Coal Transition Board Supports Art Enrichment Programs,

Centralia, Wash. (September 3, 2024) The Centralia Coal Transition Grants Economic & Community Development Board is pleased to announce it has approved a grant award in the amount of $100,449.55 to support the School of Arts Program through the Bethel Church.  

The School of the Arts program is intended to expand the student curriculum of Bethel School Programs, to enhance students’ K-12 experience and their ability to financially access music and art enrichment programs. The program will partner with the local school district and provide educational opportunities in Ballet, Keyboarding, Guitar, Ukulele, Drama, Creative Movement, Percussion and General Art Studies.

Bethel started the School of Arts Program to provide a positive environment for children to learn through art enrichment courses, after-school, and at an affordable cost. The program is designed around the goal of partnering students with supportive mentors to ensure their academic success and ability to thrive in their future careers. In the first year of the program approximately 100 children were served.

The Economic & Community Development Board was formed as a result 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 at the end of 2020 and the second unit at the end of 2025. The company is investing $55 million in Lewis and South Thurston Counties and the state of Washington through the Coal Transition 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 Lewis County Public Utility District to Support Energy Efficiency Projects,

Centralia, Wash. (August 19, 2024) The Centralia Coal Transition Grants Weatherization Board (“Weatherization Board”) approved a grant award to the Lewis County Public Utility District (“District”) in the amount of $250,000.00 to support the low-income ductless heat pump and weatherization program and community-based non-profit energy efficiency program. The District will structure the awarding of project funding in a manner that provides for program consistency.

The funding will assist qualified customers with technology to improve efficiency, comfort and monthly expenditure on space heating and cooling that will provide both energy and financial savings over many years. A second component of the funding will assist in bridging a funding gap for community-based non-profit organizations in lowering their long-term energy costs.

The District maintains an Energy Services department that offers customers a variety of residential, commercial and industrial conservation programs. Additionally, the District maintains low-income energy assistance programs and provides agency referral information for customers needing payment assistance.

Overview of the Centralia Coal Transition Funding Boards:

Weatherization Board ($10M): established to fund energy efficiency and weatherization for the residents, employees, businesses, 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 invests in bridging the gap in STEM education,

Centralia, Wash. (July 1, 2024) The Centralia Coal Transition Economic & Community Development Board approved a grant award in the amount of $178,193.66 to support the establishment of a state-of-the-art STEM hub for the Boys & Girls Club of Lewis County. The vision of the Club is to create a culture of curiosity and resilience by integrating real-world applications of STEM, such as renewable energy projects and coding workshops to teach not only the “how” but “why” behind STEM principles giving students the opportunity to understand their impact and how they can contribute to sustainable solutions.

The Club will collaborate with local businesses, educational institutions and technology firms to enrich the program by providing resources and expertise with the hope to create pathways for internships, job shadowing, and career exploration, making the STEM fields more tangible and accessible to local students.

The Boys & Girls Club of Lewis County operates under a structured framework designed to support their mission of enabling young people, especially those in need, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.

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 invests in student education and career development , Website

Centralia, Wash. (July 1, 2024) The Centralia Coal Transition Economic & Community Development Board approved a grant award in the amount of $173,864.00 to support the Renewable Energy Vehicle and Infrastructure Technician (REVIT) Training Program. This program is being led by Lewis County Transit, in partnership with Centralia School District 401, Chehalis School District 302, and the Center of Excellence for Clean Energy at Centralia College. The training program is a concerted effort to develop a statewide curriculum in grades 8-12 STEM programs and will introduce, raise awareness, and guide students to educational and career options in the renewable energy industry.

The program has received additional funding through the Washington Department of Ecology Clean Diesel Program as well as through the Employment Security Department’s Career Connect Washington Program.

With funding from Career Connect Washington and the Washington Department of Ecology, the REVIT program officially began its development phase in September 2022, with a pilot commencing in September 2023. The course development team is comprised of a diverse group of individuals representing active and retired industry experts, higher education practitioners, education and training researchers, high school and core academic instructors and district administrators.

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 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.