Centralia Coal Transition Board Supports the United Learning Center Project
The $1,000,000 grant will support economic development, jobs, education, community enhancement and energy efficiency.
Centralia, (August 10, 2021) The Centralia Coal Transition Boards are pleased to announce they are supporting the United Way of Lewis County, Boys and Girls Clubs of Lewis County and the Discover! Children’s Museum in their efforts to unite children, families, and the community in the United Learning Center (“ULC”) facility which will be constructed on a lot donated by the City of Centralia. The space will facilitate the comprehensive education of community youth through the founding partners’ combined skills, resources, and connections. Once complete the ULC will contain a specialized early learning center for pre-school aged children, a Boys and Girls Club for after school and summer engagement, and the Discover! Children’s Museum, a place for learning of all ages.
The Weatherization Board and the Economic and Community Development Board have each approved a grant award of $500,000 for a total grant of $1,000,000 to support the ULC project. This project has additional sources of funding, $4,000,000 from the Washington State Legislature, $1,900,000 from the City of Centralia REET funds and provides for an opportunity for additional partners to join in this exciting project through a capital campaign.
The funding board members appreciate the collaboration efforts by the United Way of Lewis County, the Boys and Girls Club and Discover! Children’s Museum to bring this type of supportive environment to the community and look forward to watching the project progress. Funding this project will support economic development, jobs, education, community enhancement and energy efficiency.
For more than 50 years, United Way of Lewis County has been committed to serving the local community. Through triumphs and challenges, natural disasters and rebuilding, United Way mobilizes the caring power to help those in need. With the ULC project the agency, with their partners, are using full forces to do the same for local children and families.
The Weatherization and Economic & Community Development Boards were formed as a result of the 2011 Agreement between TransAlta and the state of Washington. This agreement allows 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.
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.
Centralia Coal Transition Board supports the Transitional Living Center Project in Spokane, Washington
Grant award will support installation of a 40kW rooftop solar system
Centralia, Wash. (August 10, 2021) The Centralia Coal Transition Grants Energy Technology Board is pleased to announce a grant award in the amount of $41,750 to support the Transitions organization based in Spokane, Washington. The installation of a 40kW solar system on the rooftop of the Transitions building will produce approximately 34,842kWh per year, offsetting usage by 50% and lowering operating costs by approximately $4,400.00 per year. These operational savings will then be reinvested in the programs offered through the Transitional Living Center programs.
The addition of a solar system will complement the energy efficiency improvements made over time and aligns with the organizations commitment to environmental sustainability. Transitions is partnering with Spark Northwest and RE-volv on this renewable energy project. RE-volv is a nonprofit that provides solar financing to nonprofits, houses of worships, and community focused organizations across the United States and trains college student to help nonprofits go solar. Spark Northwest is a nonprofit that accelerates the shift to clean energy in the Pacific Northwest, one community at a time.
Transitions’ Transitional Living Center in Spokane, Washington provides supportive transitional housing for women and children experiencing homelessness. Their housing programs offers a safe environment, time, and services to support transition to permanent housing, regain employment toward the goal of family stabilization and self-sufficiency.
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 Supports Job Development and Coaching for people with disabilities in Lewis County
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
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.
