Centralia Coal Transition Weatherization Board invests in energy efficiency and healthy home measures
For immediate release
Centralia, (October 24, 2018) The Centralia Coal Transition Grants Weatherization Board is pleased to announce it has approved a second grant award to the Community Action Council of Lewis, Mason & Thurston Counties (“CAC”). CAC received the very first Weatherization Board grant back in April 2016 in the amount of $727,433 to support weatherization services in Lewis County and South Thurston County. Today, the board announces the award of $700,000 to give eligible residents of Lewis and South Thurston counties an opportunity to improve heating and energy-saving efficiencies while creating a safer and healthier home for the occupants.
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 board members have been pleased with the services CAC is providing to the community and is looking forward to building on our partnership with CAC,” said Marc Read, Board member. “CAC will continue to provide energy efficiency opportunities for local families and with this investment, they will be formally applying “Healthy Homes” measures to qualified and identified homes.”
The Community Action Council of Lewis, Mason & Thurston Counties is a private non-profit 501(c) 3 corporation serving the Lewis, Mason & Thurston County communities since 1966. The overall goal of CAC is to identify needs in the low-income section of the community and administer diverse services in a cost-efficient and effective manner. The funding received from this grant will be leveraged with additional sources of funding from federal, state, local and private sources.
“We are excited about our continued partnership with the Centralia Coal Transition Board to maintain weatherization services in the community”, said John Walsh, CAC Chief Executive Officer. “This illustrates the commitment and investment by the Board to continue to provide the long-term benefits of safer, healthier and more energy efficient homes in our community. “
Overview of the Centralia Coal Transition Funding Boards
Annual payments for the funding boards began in 2012 with the last payment due Dec. 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.
Contact: coaltransitionboards@transalta.com