08/27/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 08/27/2024 15:10
Commerce Director Mike Fong visits the Central Washington University campus geothermal project. The project is supported by an additional $970,834 in State Project Improvement funding.
These grants cover the difference in cost for state agencies to increase the energy efficiency of planned and budgeted capital projects in the current biennium
OLYMPIA, Wash. - The Washington State Department of Commerce today announced eight State Project Improvement grants for $4,850,000 to help state-owned facilities pay for efficiency measures to move buildings closer to meeting the state's Clean Buildings Performance Standard. These awards are funded by the Climate Commitment Act.
All of the awards in this round of funding are to public higher education institutions. The funding will help public colleges and universities across the state reduce their carbon emissions, helping achieve Washington's climate goals. The 2021 State Energy Strategy states that Washington will limit greenhouse gas emissions to 45% of 1990 levels by 2030, 70% of 1990 levels by 2040, and net zero by 2050.
"State Project Improvement grants specifically help increase the energy efficiency of state projects, moving state agencies and higher education institutions toward emission reduction targets," said Commerce Director Mike Fong. "I'm especially pleased that all of the funding this round is to higher education institutions. Our public colleges and universities affect so many students, instructors, employees and members of the public across the state. The impact of this funding is wide-ranging for all communities in Washington."
Applicants were required to submit a detailed description of the baseline planned project, as well as the proposed alternative project that would increase their energy efficiency. The grants awarded the difference between the original project and the energy-efficient alternative. All of the selected projects met or exceeded the required criteria of savings to investment ratio with a contribution to reducing carbon dioxide emissions.
Awards:
Fong recently visited CWU, which included a tour of the construction site for the campus-wide geothermal energy system. The work will be transformative for CWU for decades to come, he said.
This solicitation was non-competitive. Each proposed project was reviewed on a first-come, first-serve basis. Funding was available in the 2023 capital budget and the 2024 supplemental capital budget.