The Cowlitz Indian Tribe is among three local governments and nonprofits to receive part of $35.4 million grants announced by the Washington State Department of Commerce to plan and install solar and battery backup power systems in community buildings.
On Sept. 27, the department announced the grants, which included more than $1.2 million awarded locally, the largest portion going to the tribe. The projects funded by the grant will provide clean backup power for critical community needs during power outages, including supporting emergency services, healthcare and shelters, a release from the department stated.
Apart from handling outages, the systems will produce solar electricity that will save energy costs for the facility operators, the release states, and the systems may also reduce strain on the overall power grid when usage is high.
“Power outages impact everyone differently — some of our most vulnerable community members face significant risks when the power goes out,” Washington State Department of Commerce Director Mike Fong said in the release. “These investments in solar power with battery back-up systems will help people receive the services they need most — whether that’s heating or cooling, medical care, or keeping devices charged so they can communicate and stay informed.”
The Cowlitz tribe received roughly $1.2 million in a grant to install the tribe’s resilient energy and emergency power project, according to a project list from the Department of Commerce. Smaller grants included PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center, which received more than $42,000. Battle Ground Public Schools was awarded $7,500. Both grants were for planning and pre-development of solar and energy storage projects.
Solar and battery storage projects fit into the state’s climate goals, including an electric grid free of carbon emissions by 2045, the release stated. The Department of Commerce is focused on ways to benefit from federal clean energy funding, Fong said.
The planning grants are intended to prepare organizations for full-on projects in the future, the release stated. They help under-resourced communities to do the work needed to let them even apply for a more traditional project grant, Department of Commerce Assistant Director Michael Furze said.
“We are pleased to be able to help communities get ready to complete solar and battery storage projects in the future,” Furze said in the release.
