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Centralia Coal Transition Board supports “Solarize Olympia” Project

Centralia, Wash. (February 3, 2022) In December 2020 the Centralia Coal Transition Grants Energy Technology Board entered into a Grant Agreement with Olympia Community Solar to support the “Solarize Olympia” Project, a project with the goal of leveraging solar customer’s collective purchasing power to install 50 residential solar installations in Thurston County, Washington. The organization anticipates that these installations could total 200-300kW of new solar capacity and motivate homeowners with electricity savings and providing a clean energy example for neighborhoods. The grant award of $4,150.00 will be matched by Olympia Community Solar.

The Olympia Community Solar 2021 Solarize Campaign resulted in more than 130 solar installations.

Olympia Community Solar was founded with the mission to steward an equitable and accessible transition to clean energy through community solar education, policy, and project development. The goal of the organization is to increase solar access for people of all income levels and backgrounds and to grow the amount of community owned solar in Washington by 2 MWs by the end of the decade.

For more information on Olympia Community Solar visit https://olysol.org/

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.