TransAlta Coal Transition Board Supports the Lewis County 911 Communication Center
Centralia, Wash. (May 26, 2021) The TransAlta Centralia Coal Transition Grants Economic & Community Development Board is pleased to announce it has approved a grant award in the amount of $150,000 to support the Lewis County 911 Communications Telephone rebuild project. The funding will be used to purchase and install new equipment and software to help ensure that Lewis County citizens, visitors and first responders can reach 9-1-1 and administrative/non-emergency lines. The 911 Communication Center anticipates the upgrades will be completed before the end of the year.
Lewis County 911 Communications provides three essential services, covering 2,436 miles. As the primary service answering point, this agency receives and records all 9-1-1 emergency calls and dispatch the appropriate response agencies to each emergency. Lewis County 911 Communications provides service to all Fire Districts and Departments, Law Enforcement Agencies, American Medical Response, Lewis County Medic One and several other agencies.
The Economic & Community Development 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 retiring at the end of 2020 and the second unit at the end of 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.
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.