Centralia, (December 12, 2018) The Centralia Coal Transition Grants Weatherization Board (“Weatherization Board”) and the Lewis County Public Utility District (“District”) are teaming up for a second time to support energy efficiency programs available to District customers. The Weatherization Board has approved a grant amount of $1,080,000 to the District to provide qualified customers with technology to improve the efficiency, comfort, and monthly expenditures on space heating and cooling that will provide both energy and financial savings over many years.
The funding from the Weatherization Board will supplement other financial resources available to the District and will build upon the energy efficiency improvements leveraged by funding the District received from the Weatherization Board in 2017 and 2018 which totaled approximately $1.6 million dollars. As the District continues to promote low-income ductless heat pumps and weatherization programs for qualified customers, they are also committed to adding a focus to find and incentivize additional cost-effective improvements for local K-12 facilities to support qualifying lighting, weatherization, and HVAC measures for schools served by the District.
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 for projects to improve energy efficiency and weatherization within Lewis County and South Thurston County.
“There has been a steady flow of grant applications to the Weatherization Board, “said Mickey Dreher, a Board member. “Early on it became very apparent that energy efficiency upgrades are needed in homes, schools, and businesses across our community. As a Board we continue to see that the transition funding dollars can be leveraged through various programs and based on what the PUD was able to achieve with their first grant, the Board fully supported their most recent application.”
Lewis County Public Utility District is a municipal corporation of the State of Washington, formed by the people of Lewis County to provide electric service. 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.
“Our PUD appreciates the opportunity to build upon the successes of the previous grant award,” said Dean Dahlin, Lewis PUD Board President. “Another great opportunity to work with the weatherization board to invest these dollars with the maximum benefit to our community…. helping lower energy usage and increase comfort for customers for years to come. Our commissioners and staff would like to thank the weatherization board for entrusting us with these funds.”
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 on 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 for the state of Washington.
For more information on the Centralia Coal Transition Funding Boards visit the Centralia Coal Transition Grants Website
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 Email
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