OLYMPIA, Wash. – The Washington State Department of Commerce is awarding $23 million in grants to 18 projects across the state aimed at making our electrical grid stronger, more reliable, and better prepared for challenges brought by storms, wildfires, and other disruptions. 

From burying power lines to upgrading critical infrastructure, these projects will modernize the grid and strengthen energy systems across Washington, including:  

• Replacing outdated power poles and transmission lines
• Installing modern relay panels
• Upgrading and hardening electrical lines  
• Moving vulnerable power lines underground   

Awarded projects will receive both federal and state matching dollars, including funding from the Climate Commitment Act. Thanks to partnerships with local utilities, the funds are matched three-to-one — helping reduce power outages and keep communities powered up when it matters most. Program grantees are also required to contribute matching funds – specifically, 33.34% of the award amount.

Recipients are located across the state. Benton Rural Electric Association (BEA) received a $3 million award to purchase fire prevention systems, implement smart grid technologies, replace aging power lines to reduce wildfire risk, and modernize the electric grid in Eastern Washington. “This project represents a major step forward in strengthening our electric system against wildfire risk while enhancing energy reliability for the communities we serve,” said Ryan Redmond, Chief Executive Officer of Benton REA.  

In Western Washington, Mason County Public Utility District No. 3 is using its $1.9 million award to upgrade the Pioneer substation transformer and install new relay panels to help manage and maintain the capacity necessary for that service area. CEO Annette Creekpaum highlighted the importance of the funding, stating: “With rising prices, increased demand, and more extreme weather, this funding award couldn’t come at a better time. This project makes it possible to provide more of what these communities need: staying warm in the winter, cool in the summer, and keeping power rates low.” 

These investments also support Washington’s broader energy and equity goals, including the Washington State Energy Strategy, by prioritizing projects that improve existing grid infrastructure and benefit historically disadvantaged communities.  

“Strengthening our grid is about more than just keeping the lights on; it’s about making sure every community in Washington is safe, connected, and prepared for the unexpected,” said Joe Nguyễn, Washington State Department of Commerce Director. “These projects show what’s possible when state, federal and local partners come together to build a more resilient future for everyone.” 

Washington secured its first three years of federal Department of Energy funding through the Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grants program, which supports state, territorial and tribal efforts to build more resilient energy systems. Selected projects are moving into the next step of the process: federal approval through DOE’s Grid Deployment Office. 

In fall 2024, 18 applications requesting a combined total of $23.6 million were selected to advance to DOE for review and final approval. Awarded projects include: 

1. Benton Rural Electric Association: $3 million for the purchase of fire prevention systems, smart grid technologies, replacement of old power lines to reduce wildfire risk, and modernization and electric grid upgrades.  
2. Clallam County Public Utility District No. 1: $2,148,916 for undergrounding power lines on the north Olympic Peninsula, a densely forested area prone to frequent outages.  
3. Clallam County Public Utility District No. 1: $2,072,638 for replacing critical transmission line poles with fire-resistant fiberglass.  
4. Clallam County Public Utility District No. 1: $2,631,956 for upgrading distribution poles, Gunstone transmission rebuild, and pole replacements on Burnt Mountain.  
5. Clallam County Public Utility District No. 1: $2,456,897 for improving substations and infrastructure across the north Olympic Peninsula.  
6. Douglas County Public Utility District No. 1: $1,515,115 for a three-mile distribution line undergrounding project.  
7. Klickitat County Public Utility District No. 1: $150,141 for the second phase of a transmission line pole upgrade and reconductoring along Highway 142. 
8. Klickitat County Public Utility District No. 1: $297,333 for rerouting 3,000 feet of overhead single-phase line and upgrading it to an underground system. 
9. Klickitat County Public Utility District No. 1: $40,000 to upgrade existing single-phase direct buried conductors to a new three-phase underground system.
10. Klickitat County Public Utility District No. 1:  $133,333 for the first phase of the transmission line and pole upgrade and reconductoring project along Highway 142. 
11. Klickitat County Public Utility District No. 1: $1,133,333 to replace 7.5 miles of overhead poles with a three-phase infrastructure.
12. Klickitat County Public Utility District No. 1: $666,667 to upgrade single phase lines to three phase lines and connecting circuits from different substations together.
13. Klickitat County Public Utility District No. 1: $108,002 for undergrounding 2,400 ft of overhead lines.
14. Klickitat County Public Utility District No. 1: $106,807 for 10,000 feet of transmission line upgrades.
15. Mason County Public Utility District No. 1: $3 million for a substation build on Highway 101 to increase redundancy in the electrical grid.
16. Mason County Public Utility District No. 1: $1,118,707 for undergrounding powerlines in the Seal Rock area.
17. Mason County Public Utility District No. 3: $1,999,133 for the Pioneer substation transformer upgrade and installation of new relay panels.
18. Tanner Electric Cooperative (King County, Pierce County): $1,017,994 for line reconductoring and the replacement of 50 aging transmission poles with taller poles.