Centralia Coal Transition Grants Weatherization Board partners with the Lewis County Public Utility District for a multi-year funded approach to energy efficiency and cost savings to customers.
Lewis County, WASHINGTON (July 21, 2020) The Centralia Coal Transition Grants Weatherization Board (“Weatherization Board”) is pleased to announce a grant award to the Lewis County Public Utility District (“PUD”). The weatherization grant award totals $1.2M with payments of $400,000 to be made annually for 2020, 2021 and 2022 to support low income ductless heat pumps and weatherization upgrades, school energy efficiency improvements and community based non-profit energy efficiency measures.
In early August, the PUD will share information on how customers can access grant-funded energy efficiency upgrades.
“This grant award will allow us to serve a large number of additional low-income households with space heating/cooling and weatherization efficiency measures that will save customers money through reduced energy consumption and improve overall quality of life for many years to come,” said Matt Samuelson, Power Supply Manager for Lewis County Public Utility District. “Further, we are excited to continue our partnership with K-12 schools to modernize their facilities in ways that result in large-scale energy efficiency improvements and associated cost savings.”
About Lewis County Public Utility District
Lewis County PUD is a community-owned, locally governed utility providing power services and telecommunications infrastructure to approximately 33,000 customers throughout most of Lewis County and adjacent communities. The District maintains an Energy Services department that offers customers a variety of residential, commercial and industrial energy efficiency programs, including free energy audits, which help customers understand their energy usage, and what options they may be able to implement to reduce that usage.
For information on the PUD’s grant program, and whether you may qualify for incentives, please contact the District’s energy services department at (360) 345-1493 or energyservices@lcpud.org.
About Centralia Coal Transition Funding Boards
The Weatherization 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 mission of the Weatherization Board is to provide funding of projects to improve energy efficiency and weatherization within Lewis County and South Thurston County.
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, businesses, 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.