Last year, TransAlta announced it would provide $55 million over 10 years to help ease the impacts of its smaller operations and shifts away from coal.
On Tuesday, one of three boards tasked with allocating that money announced the first dispersal of the funds.
The Centralia Coal Transition Weatherization Board approved its first grant application, one submitted by the Community Action Council of Lewis, Mason and Thurston counties.
The money will help support weatherization services in Lewis and South Thurston counties over a 24-month period.
The board approved an amount of $727,433. The first payment of $363,716.50 will be paid on April 1, with the second half to be paid on April 1, 2017.
The Community Action Council will use the funds to expand its current weatherization efforts through the coordination of services with local providers to support the services for eligible households.
“The money will go specifically toward weatherization services for low-income families,” John Walsh, chief executive officer for CAC, told The Chronicle.
Chairwoman of the board Debbie Campbell said the project of the CAC fits the board’s mission perfectly.
The organization will help both homeowners and renters. At first, they hope to target five to six homes, or units, a month, and in the future will expand to eight to ten units a month, Walsh said.
Along with the weatherization efforts, Walsh said, the organization will look at energy conservation and healthy homes — targeting mold issues and air systems, as well as home repairs.
The money from the board will be supplemented by federal funds the organization already has in place, Brian Sanda, with CAC, told The Chronicle.
The project will help those living on a limited budget modernize their homes and improve energy conservation, thereby saving money on utility bills.
“A lot of these folks are on fixed incomes in our community, so the more money we save them, the better off they are in the process,” Walsh said.
The majority of the work will likely take place in Lewis County because of the population base, size and demographics.
The second phase of the project will provide training to contractors in the community to help with weatherization services.
Jeff Yanish, a TransAlta representative on the board, said the CAC was the perfect candidate for the grant allocation because it met the mission requirements of the board, leveraged money to further dollars, and also included the addition of jobs.
“Between the three of those things it was a really nice fit,” he said.
In all, the weatherization board has received 14 applicants for grants. The board meets quarterly, and its next meeting is on April 20, when it will review more applications.
The board has $10 million to allocate. It was established to fund energy efficiency and weatherization for the residents, employees, businesses, non-profit organizations and local governments within Lewis and South Thurston counties.
Two other boards — the economic and community development board and the energy technology board — have $20 million and $25 million, respectively, to allocate to its mission, with a total investment of $55 million between the three boards.
Annual payments to the funding boards have been made for the past four years. The last payment is due Dec. 31, 2023.
The boards were 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. One unit will shut down in December 2020, while the second one will close in December 2025.
Dawn Farrell, CEO and president of TransAlta, said in return for the fixed transition dates to close the plants, the company invested in the communities that would be impacted most by the transition.
“I am proud today to say that this agreement is now bearing fruit for the people of the local community,” she said in a press release.
Gov. Jay Inslee has applauded the agreement and stated it was a historic step for the transition away from coal-fired power and those in the community that would be affected.
“This first grant supports weatherization projects that will help over a hundred local families make cost- and energy-saving improvements to their homes,” he said in the release. “I commend TransAlta for their corporate citizenship, and for their support of Washington’s clean energy future.”
Lori Schmitt, corporate secretary of TransAlta, said those applying for grant opportunities with the boards should be patient, as the process is longer than the typical grant process.
For more information on the boards, or to apply for grant funding, go online to www.cctgrants.com.
