News

Centralia Coal Transition Board Supports Job Development and Coaching for people with disabilities in Lewis County, Website

Centralia, Wash. (August 9, 2021) The Centralia Coal Transition Grants Economic & Community Development Board is pleased to announce it has approved a grant award in the amount of $30,000.00 to the Morningside organization. The grant will be used to assist people with disabilities in Lewis County receive the resources they need to be successful in the workplace.

The funding is to assist clients located in Lewis County return to work or secure a new job that was lost because of the COVID crisis during 2020. This investment by the board will enable Morningside to provide additional training support to keep client work skills sharp while looking for a job and/or support the opportunity for retraining. The board appreciates the efforts of the Morningside team to help get individuals back to work and provide job coaching as they re-enter the work force.

Morningside’s mission is to provide the training, coaching, and employment services that build the self-sufficiency and self-esteem of people with disabilities; to transform lives for people with disabilities by removing significant barriers to employment and providing an infrastructure of personalized support. Since 1963, Morningside has been helping change the lives of individuals with significant disabilities by matching their skill and interest in jobs in the community. They now operate in six counties in Western Washington (Thurston, Mason, Clallam, Grays Harbor, Lewis, and Pierce.)

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 into Lewis and South Thurston Counties and the state of Washington through the Coal Transition Boards.

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. 

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 energy recovery technology project,

Centralia, Wash. (August 5, 2021) The Centralia Coal Transition Board awarded an Energy Technology Grant in the amount of $200,000 to Skagit PUD to support a partnership project with InPipe Energy to install a first-of-its kind energy recovery system called an In-PRV in their water delivery infrastructure. This project will demonstrate the potential to tap into a new source of local, reliable clean energy in the state of Washington which aligns with the mission of the Energy Technology Board.

Click the link below to view the announcement of June 29, 2021 which includes comments from John Kousinioris, TransAlta’s President & CEO.

Centralia Coal Transition Board supports Yakima Valley Partners Habitat for Humanity, Website

Grant award supports 119.7 kW solar system

Centralia, Wash. (August 5, 2021) The Centralia Coal Transition Grants Energy Technology Board announced today a grant award in the amount of $112,600 to the Yakima Valley Partners Habitat for Humanity. The grant will be leveraged with funding from the Department of Commerce Clean Energy Fund to support the installation of a 119.7kW solar system on the roof of the Habitat for Humanity Store. The store will see an energy savings of approximately $646,565 over a 30-year timeframe, totaling the construction cost of 5 low-income homes.

The store features a metal roof with no potential shading in the surrounding area; the modules will be installed facing east and west following the slope of the roof to minimize cost per watt and will meet peak electricity demand for late afternoon cooling loads in the summer. The project will utilize Washington made products to install 440 modules arranged in six blocks, three blocks on the east side of the roof and three on the west side.

Yakima Valley Partners Habitat for Humanity’s mission is to provide safe, affordable homes for families who would not otherwise qualify for home loans. Their program specifically targets and serves low-income families.

The Energy Technology 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 shutting down in December 2020 and the second unit in December 2025. The company is investing $55 million into Lewis and South Thurston Counties and the state of Washington through the Coal Transition Boards.

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.

Centralia Coal Transition Board awards grant to Port of Seattle, Website

Grant will support the installation of a shore power connection at Pier 66

Centralia (August 4, 2021) The Centralia Coal Transition Grants Energy Technology Board is pleased to announce it has approved a $1,000,000 grant submitted on behalf of the Port of Seattle. The grant award will support the installation of shore power connection point at the Bell Street Cruise Terminal at Pier 66 in Seattle, Washington. The expected total project cost is approximately $17,000,000 and once completed, will enable ships equipped with shore power technology to plug into cleaner, landside electrical power while at berth. This opportunity will result in significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and reduce the burden of diesel exposure.  

The design of this project commenced in 2019 and of the shore power connection is expected to be operational by the 2023 cruise season. The project is supported with additional grant funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Diesel Emissions Reduction Act and the state of Washington Department of Ecology.  

The shore power connection at Pier 66 will allow vessels equipped with shore power technology to plug into the local electrical grid and turn off their auxiliary diesel engines. Not only will this significantly reduce greenhouse emissions that contribute to climate change, but it will also reduce the burden of diesel exposure to people who live, work, and visit along the Seattle waterfront. Pier 66 is the home port to Norwegian Cruise Line and Oceania Cruises, which offer weekly sailings to Alaska during the cruise season. The Energy Technology Board was formed to support projects throughout the state and has a mission to invest in projects that create environmental benefits for the state of Washington and this project aligns with that mission.

“We deeply appreciate this grant from the Centralia Coal Transition Board to help the Port of Seattle transition our working waterfront away from carbon intensive fuels to clean electricity,” said Port of Seattle Executive Director Steve Metruck.  “Waterfront electrifications make our maritime industries innovative and sustainable, which makes them more competitive and a greater platform for economic opportunity.  Electrification also reduces our impact to near Port neighborhoods and the region, a critical measure of how well we deliver results for our community.”

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 shutting down 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.

The Port of Seattle is an independent special purpose government representing the people of King County, Washington with a mission to create economic opportunity and stronger communities by advancing trade and commerce, promoting manufacturing and maritime growth, and improving the environment for current and future generations. As the largest and fastest-growing cruise port on the West Coast, the Port of Seattle is committed to strengthening the region as a leading tourism destination while also being the greenest and most energy efficient port in North America. 

Overview of the Centralia Coal Transition Funding Boards:

Annual payments for the funding boards have been made since 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.

TransAlta Coal Transition Board Supports the Lewis County 911 Communication Center,

Centralia, Wash. (May 26, 2021) The TransAlta Centralia Coal Transition Grants Economic & Community Development Board is pleased to announce it has approved a grant award in the amount of $150,000 to support the Lewis County 911 Communications Telephone rebuild project. The funding will be used to purchase and install new equipment and software to help ensure that Lewis County citizens, visitors and first responders can reach 9-1-1 and administrative/non-emergency lines. The 911 Communication Center anticipates the upgrades will be completed before the end of the year.

Lewis County 911 Communications provides three essential services, covering 2,436 miles. As the primary service answering point, this agency receives and records all 9-1-1 emergency calls and dispatch the appropriate response agencies to each emergency. Lewis County 911 Communications provides service to all Fire Districts and Departments, Law Enforcement Agencies, American Medical Response, Lewis County Medic One and several other agencies.

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 into Lewis and South Thurston Counties and the state of Washington through the Coal Transition Boards.

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. 

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.