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.