NEW: the Central Washington Resource Energy Collaborative
Kittitas County, Central Washington University, the Economic Development Group of Kittitas County, Puget Sound Energy and enXco are forming a coalition to create a broad public- private partnership focused on renewable power research and job growth. This group has committed $1.2 million in financial support and in-kind services over the next three years.
The group is called the “Central Washington Resource Energy Collaborative” and has applied for state designation as an Innovation Partnership Zone ("IPZ"). Designation as an IPZ would allow future state support of the Collaborative. (IPZs are designated by the state Department of Commerce. Their purpose is to stimulate industry in a specific geographic area. There are 11 in the state of Washington.)
The Collaborative brings together both public and private sector partners, including PSE which is the second-largest utility owner and operator of wind power facilities in the US.
Show me the Money: Green Jobs Grants
Recently, the U.S. Department of Labor has issued $500 million for green job training. This money is being released through a series of competitive grants.
If you are an organization within Washington State, the Governor's Office requests that you submit a brief information form to the Governor's Evergreen Jobs Leadership Team. The Team is compiling a list of potential applicants which will be posted on a public website. The information on this list will be available for stakeholders to find grant partners and leverage resources.
A copy of the form is available here: http://www.wtb.wa.gov/documents/clearinghousegrantform.doc
Show me the Money: Applications Available for the Washington State Energy Program
Washington previously received $60.9 million in Recovery Act funding for its State Energy Program (“SEP”). The Washington Legislature later provided $38.5 million to the Washington State Community, Trade and Economic Development (“CTED”) agency to administer a loan and grant program for eligible projects in the areas of energy efficiency, renewable energy and clean energy innovation (see our earlier blog entry here for more details). The deadline for submitting a notice of intent to apply is July 27, 2009 at 5:00 p.m. Pacific time, and the application is due August 17, 2009 at 5:00 p.m. Pacific time.
I attended an informational meeting held by CTED on July 13, 2009. The meeting provided an overview of the loan and grant program, as well as funding details, eligibility guidelines and evaluation criteria. Eligible projects can receive between $500,000 to $2 million in loans and grants in the first round, with the requirement that applicants provide other sources of funding at least equal to the amount of the loan or grant request. The non-SEP funding may include amounts spent or committed to the project since January 1, 2009. Projects will be evaluated based on the feasibility and quality of the project plan, the experience and qualifications of the project team, the ratio of matching funds to SEP funds, job creation, and energy savings/production. CTED intends to announce award decisions in September 2009.
Washington's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Comprehensive Application
On May 11, the Washington Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development (“CTED”) filed an application with the United States Department of Energy to receive American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (“ARRA”) funds for Washington’s State Energy Program (“SEP”). The application contains funding for renewable energy, energy efficiency, and farm energy assessments. Once the SEP is approved, funding will commence through CTED with advice from the Clean Energy Leadership Council.
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Loans and Grants Program
Washington’s SEP dedicates $38.5 million to a loan and grant fund for innovative renewable energy projects that use commercial or near commercial energy technologies. These funds may also be used for cost-effective energy efficiency projects. The goal of this program is to produce renewable energy or reduce energy consumption in a manner which leverages ARRA funds to create or retain as many jobs as possible. The first request for proposal (“RFP”) under this program should be issued in June 2009. CTED anticipates issuing up to 25 loans and 15 grants.
Community-Wide Urban Residential and Commercial Energy Efficiency Program
Washington’s SEP dedicates $14.5 million for the development and deployment of at least three large neighborhood based building energy efficiency projects. This will further the state’s policy goal of annually weatherizing twenty thousand homes and business over the next five years. The Washington State University Extension Energy Program will coordinate and collaborate with CTED on the design, administration, and implementation of the projects.
Energy Efficiency Credit Enhancement
Washington’s SEP provides $5 million toward credit enhancement mechanisms to generate high levels of leverage for energy efficiency projects that go beyond direct loans. CTED will create risk reduction mechanisms that allow financial institutions to lend to a broader pool of applicants with lower rates and longer loan terms. The risk reduction mechanisms include loan guarantees, loan loss reserves, credit enhancements, and leverage revolving loan funds.
The Farm Energy Assessments Program
Washington’s SEP directs $500,000 to increase on-farm energy efficiency. These funds will be used to create tools for farm energy analysis, and to train staff in the use of such tools. Afterwards, farmers will be provided with a tool to analyze current farm practices and proposed changes.
Clean Energy Leadership
Washington’s SEP will be carried with advice from the Clean Energy Leadership Council. The Clean Energy Leadership Council will consist of representatives from Washington’s major clean energy companies, supporting organizations, and the state’s legislature. The council will be co-chaired by the director of CTED. The Council will develop strategic recommendations to develop clean energy industries within Washington, review energy investments, and recommend potential clean energy programs and projects for possible federal funding through the SEP.
The Wind and Solar Power Industries Now Employ Twice the Number of Workers in the U.S. as the Coal Mining Industry
In the midst of an unprecedented amount of bad news surrounding the economy, the robust growth in employment in the wind and solar energy sectors has been receiving a lot of attention. Wind industry jobs have increased 70% over the past year, totaling 85,000 in 2008. These 85,000 jobs in the wind industry include some 13,000 manufacturing jobs, many of which are being filled by workers who lost jobs in other manufacturing industries, like the steel industry. Similarly, the solar industry employs more than 80,000 workers in the U.S.
CNNMoney.com ran an article earlier this week noting that the wind industry now outstrips the coal mining industry in number of workers. The article, “Wind Jobs Outstrips Coal,” noted that the coal mining and extraction industry employs about 81,000 workers. According to a 2007 U.S. Department of Energy report cited in the article, these numbers have been steady in recent years, but are down nearly 50% since 1986. Estimates for the total direct employment in the U.S. coal industry range from 136,000 to 174,000 workers, and includes those who mine coal, haul it by rail, barge and truck, and who operate and maintain coal-fired power plants. Thus, the solar and wind energy sectors have quickly caught up the coal industry in terms of overall employment and will soon surpass the coal industry in total employment.
These facts demonstrate the potential of renewable energy to lead the country’s economic recovery when you consider that renewable energy currently supplies a tiny portion of the nation’s electricity supply—about 3 percent—compared to coal, which supplies about 50 percent of our electricity.
