Centralia Coal Transition Board
Supports Baseball Field Renovation at W.F. West High School
Centralia, Wash. The Economic & Community Development Board approved a grant award in the amount of $120,000 to support renovation of the W.F. West Baseball Field to include upgrades to the drainage system and turf installation. The Chehalis Foundation and Chehalis School District entered a partnership to renovate a field which not only serves the W.F. West High School Bearcats but serves the baseball community in Lewis County. The new drainage systems and addition of synthetic turf infield and outfield will enable the field to be used in early spring and extended use in the fall months expanding its use to include youth baseball tournaments.
The Chehalis Foundation has worked with the community, educators, and city leadership to raise funding for this project. The grant amount funded by the coal transition board helps to reach the final fundraising efforts.
The Chehalis Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community foundation that supports the city, community, and academic excellence in Chehalis Schools. To date, the Chehalis Foundation has raised over 20 million dollars from generous contributors and has completed over 30 projects.
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:
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.