The Washington State Department of Commerce is awarding 10 grants totaling $888,000 to public organizations with buildings over 20,000 square feet and that includes almost $232,000 to the North Mason School District. Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program, these are the second and final round of awards designed to help organizations plan future energy-saving projects. Commerce awarded 10 similar grants in 2024.

The North Mason School District in Belfair is receiving $231,978 for energy audits and operations and maintenance plans developed for two Tier 1 schools, with some energy improvement measures for other schools.

The pre-construction grants fund an analysis of current energy use to help building owners create plans to improve energy efficiency. This investment will help local organizations toward compliance with Washington’s Clean Building Compliance Standard. These studies will help more public organizations plan for the future.

All organizations selected for this round previously qualified for Commerce funding. This allowed Commerce’s buildings unit to support these pre-qualified projects, ensuring more communities can take the next step toward cleaner, more efficient buildings.

“These investments help local governments and other public organizations prepare for the future, cut energy costs, and reduce climate pollution,” said Commerce Director Joe Nguy?n. “By funding projects that were already vetted and ready to go, we’re making sure every available federal dollar goes directly toward helping communities meet our state’s clean energy goals.”

Awards:

  1. Bremerton Government Center Association (Bremerton): $102,350 for an energy audit, Life Cycle Cost Analysis and Operations and Maintenance plan for the Norm Dicks Civic Center.
  2. Clark County PUD (Vancouver): $73,471 to conduct an energy audit of a Tier 1 building and development of an Operations and Maintenance plan.
  3. City of Gig Harbor (Gig Harbor): $19,402 to conduct a benchmarking study and develop an energy management plan and Operations and Maintenance plan for the civic center.
  4. City of Port Angeles (Port Angeles): $75,000 for an energy audit, energy plan and operations and maintenance plan for a Tier 1 building.
  5. City of Sequim (Sequim): $64,450 for an energy audit, benchmarking and development of an energy management plan for the civic center.
  6. City of Tumwater (Tumwater): $17,321 to conduct benchmarking, calculate energy use and develop energy management and operations maintenance documentation.
  7. Lake Stevens School District (Lake Stevens): $184,961 for an energy audit and benchmarking for three Tier 1 schools with determination of strategy to improve energy efficiency.
  8. North Mason School District (Belfair): $231,978 for energy audits and operations and maintenance plans developed for two Tier 1 schools, with some energy improvement measures for other schools.
  9. Spokane School District (Spokane County): $75,000 to develop operations and maintenance plans for multiple schools.
  10. Stevens County (Stevens County): $44,000 for an energy audit, benchmarking, and operations and maintenance plan.