 The CRTC marine cable (courtesy of Charlie Delius from Blue Dot Sea Farm)
Project Spotlight - Clean Energy Fund Grantee: Composite Recycling Technology Center
The Composite Recycling Technology Center (CRTC), located in Port Angeles, is demonstrating how clean energy research and technology can be deployed to further advance carbon fiber and wind turbine blade material recycling. As a nonprofit, CRTC diverts carbon fiber and other industrial materials from landfills, repurposes them into new products, and creates permanent jobs.
CRTC was awarded a Research, Development and Demonstration grant from the Department of Commerce’s Clean Energy Fund in 2022. Through new techniques, CRTC intercepts industrial byproducts from manufacturers that would otherwise discard and repurpose them. Under this grant, carbon fiber was used in both a marine environment and in the construction of residential homes. CRTC designed and engineered a marine cable from recycled carbon fiber and windmill spar cap material, addressing and eliminating the shedding and degradation issues commonly associated with plastic marine cables. CRTC’s carbon fiber marine cable reuses material that was destined for a landfill and meets marine farming industry requirements with a durable, salt water-resistant product.
 Equipment purchased by the CRTC using the Clean Energy Fund grant award (Photo courtesy of Brianna Gomez-Catalan, Program Manager at Commerce)
 The second component of the project involved developing and manufacturing cross-laminated timber panels by combining recycled carbon fiber with Coastal Western Hemlock fibers. Coastal Western Hemlock is usually avoided in construction due to its high moisture content, but by using these panels, site developers successfully assembled a 240-square-foot residence in three days.
Commerce awards over $110 million in Climate Commitment Act funding to clean energy projects
Earlier this year, the Energy Programs in Communities Unit launched a new grant approach to make the application process easier, speed up clean energy project construction, and improve equitable outcomes. By pooling funding streams, Commerce was able to support clean energy community projects through three tailored opportunities.
In addition, Commerce strategically designed the opportunities to first support communities that are most impacted by climate change. Read more about our approach. To date, Commerce has awarded $110 million for 113 projects, and over 70% benefit vulnerable populations, as well as tribal and overburdened communities in Washington state.
Through this new approach, Commerce has awarded $17 million to 10 different tribal nations in support the planning, design and construction of tribal-led clean energy projects that promote tribal sovereignty, advance community resiliency, and contribute to Washington’s decarbonization goals.
 Commerce Director Mike Fong visited the Spokane Tribe of Indians on May 24, 2024. (Photo courtesy of Commerce.)
Current and upcoming opportunities
Small utilities opportunity: Washington Grid Resilience Program
Funded through the Department of Energy’s Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grants (supporting section 40101(d) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act), the Washington Grid Resilience Program is designed to strengthen and modernize the power grid against wildfires, extreme weather and other natural disasters exacerbated by the climate crisis. Beginning in 2024, Commerce will award state and federal funds to a diverse set of projects with priority given to efforts that generate the greatest community benefit by providing clean, affordable and reliable energy and reducing the frequency and duration of power outages. Visit the website for additional information on this opportunity.
This funding opportunity will have two application review periods: October 2024 and April 2025. Information about the second application period will be announced at the beginning of next year.
This program is open to applicants who satisfy the minimum qualifications and are available for work in Washington. Eligible entities include: Electric grid operators, electricity storage operators, electricity generators, transmission owners or operators, distribution providers, fuel suppliers and other applicants approved by the Department of Energy. Additional applicant eligibility requirements correspond to specific project categories.
This initial round of funding is designated for small utilities with 4,000,000 MWH annual electricity sales or less, as defined by the Department of Energy. However, if funds remain at the end of the second review period, we may open the opportunity to utilities of all sizes.
Are you eligible for the Federal Clean Energy Tax Credit Assistance Program?
Washington state is offering free technical legal assistance to public entities who may be eligible to receive elective pay under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). For eligible projects that were completed in 2023 and early 2024, the deadline to claim IRA tax credits is Nov. 15, 2024. Projects completed later in 2024 will have future filing deadlines.
Through the Washington Clean Energy Tax Credit Assistance Program, Lawyers for Good Government is offering free legal and technical assistance to file for eligible projects and help you bring money back into your communities! Eligible projects include EV purchases for qualified commercial vehicles, publicly-owned EV Infrastructure Charging States (EVSE) and solar, wind, geothermal or storage projects, among other types of clean energy technologies. If your completed project is eligible, the tax credit assistance program will help maximize your tax credits.
If you completed an eligible project in 2023 or early 2024 and would like to take advantage of this free technical assistance to receive direct payments from the IRS, please complete this form and someone will reach out to you directly. We want to support you in leveraging the brand new IRA tax credit process and ensure you take advantage of the incentives available!
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