Wash. Allocates Millions from Cap-and-Trade Fund

Washington lawmakers have allocated $10.7 million in cap-and-trade funds to development of agrivoltaic projects in the state. | Enel

May 8, 2023

A pumped storage site, solar farms and agrivoltaic ventures are among the projects receiving funding from the state's cap-and-trade fund.

A new pumped storage site, an undetermined number of solar farms and agrivoltaic ventures are among the projects for which Washington is allocating $300 million.

Washington’s first cap-and-trade carbon allowances auction in February raised $300 million for the state’s coffers. (See Washington Confirms $300M Take for 1st Cap-and-Trade Auction.)

Near the end of the legislative session last month, Washington lawmakers divided the $300 million into 188 individual appropriations. Highlights include:

$10.7 million to develop agrivoltaic projects, the mingling of solar farms with growing crops and grazing livestock. Washington currently has a small agrivoltaic project operating on the Colville Indian Reservation near the Grand Coulee Dam. In May 2022, the Yakima County government approved BayWa r.e.’s 94-MW Black Rock agrivoltaic solar farm, expected to be completed next year.
$39 million will go to developing solar farms.
$40.9 million to help local government add climate planning to their urban growth planning. The Legislature recently passed House Bill 1181, which adds climate considerations to city and county land-use planning.
$600,000 to help site new pumped storage projects. The Legislature recently passed HB 1216, which directs the Washington State University Energy Program to develop a pumped storage siting process. Washington has one pumped storage project in the works, which is controversial because part of it would be on land that the Yakama Indian Nation considers culturally sacred.
$20 million to help the state’s fledgling hydrogen industry. Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana have combined forces to seek at least $1 billion in federal money to create a regional hydrogen hub. Another $3 million will be allocated to build hydrogen vehicle refueling infrastructure.
$50 million for climate change projects for the state’s tribes.
$15 million to capture methane rising at the state’s landfills.
$50 million to install solar panels on public buildings.
$1.4 million to deal with childhood asthma problems related to jet fumes from SeaTac International Airport between Seattle and Tacoma.
$36 million to build charging infrastructure for electric vehicles.
$30 million to build a hybrid electric ferry. Another $180 million is allocated to overhaul ferry docks and terminals to handle electric ferries.