News

Oct 19, 2024

Clean Energy Fund (CEF) – Washington State Department of Commerce

The Clean Energy Fund (CEF) funds the development, demonstration and deployment of clean energy technology. Established in 2013, Gov. Inslee has continued to champion the fund, and the legislature

The Clean Energy Fund (CEF) funds the development, demonstration and deployment of clean energy technology. Established in 2013, Gov. Inslee has continued to champion the fund, and the legislature again invested capital budget in these grant programs.

The Clean Energy Fund (CEF) Research, Development, and Demonstration (RDD) program funded projects that engage in strategic research and development of new and emerging clean energy technologies. These technologies provide opportunities for economic development and support climate goals.

Recent awardees from CEF2 and CEF3 span a variety of technologies.*

*This list is not exhaustive.

The Electrification of Transportation Systems Program (ETS) provided grants to Washington local governments, Tribal Governments, and retail electric utilities for electric vehicle charging infrastructure. This funding is for the continued transformation of the electric transportation market in Washington State.

Through the Clean Energy Fund, Commerce provides grants to non-profit lenders who connect small businesses, non-profits, multi-family building owners, and homeowners with low-cost financing for clean energy projects. Grants provided through this program provide revolving loan funds that help to reduce risk and provide inexpensive capital for underserved markets to deploy clean energy projects.

The revolving nature of the fund allows it to be utilized many times over. By connecting clean energy projects with innovative financing, Washington can accelerate market expansion and unlock opportunities for underserved markets to participate in the green economy while avoiding unmanageable debt. Historically, every $1 invested in this program is leveraged by $6 or more while supporting over 5,000 energy projects across the state.

Since 2013, state investments have encouraged public-private partnerships on a diverse range of projects, leading the way in electrical grid modernization. Clean Energy Fund project data and business case analyses are transforming how utilities and communities view energy systems and resilience, from different battery chemistry to thermal energy storage, microgrids, and solar.

The Grid Modernization Program provided funding for Washington electric utility projects that advance clean, renewable energy technologies and transmission and distribution control systems; support renewable energy source integration, distributed energy resource deployment, and sustainable microgrids; or increase utility customer choice in energy sources, efficiency, equipment, and utility services.