March Newsletter
New study analyzes economic impact of oil refining in Washington
The Washington State Department of Commerce (Commerce) contracted with the Western Washington University Center for Economic Business and Research to complete a study to help the state understand how anticipated oil market changes may impact Washington’s five refineries, refinery workers, communities, and tribes near refineries. In February, Commerce released the Washington State Refinery Economic Impact Study report outlining the study and its 10 key findings. These findings — including labor market data, the potential for alternative fuel production, and the critical need to center perspectives of tribes and tribal citizens — are intended to serve refineries, refinery communities, and policy makers to inform future planning and needs.
Direct pay guide for worker protection requirements
The Congressional Progressive Caucus Center (CPC Center) has released a Guide to Worker Protection Requirements outlining how tax-exempt entities can meet the Inflation Reduction Act’s labor-related requirements to receive increased tax credits from the IRS (“Direct Pay”) for their sustainable energy projects. To ensure workers are paid fairly and to build a clean energy workforce, entities must pay workers prevailing wages and use registered apprentices on sustainable energy projects with an output greater than 1 Megawatt to receive Direct Pay.
The Guide includes step-by-step instructions for how tax-exempt entities like towns, schools, houses of worship, etc., can comply with these requirements and create clean jobs that benefit communities through partnering with unions, determining prevailing wages, hiring registered apprentices, and establishing community benefit agreements with local stakeholders. In addition to the Guide, the CPC Center also released a partner toolkit to help people spread the word about this opportunity and FAQs on Direct Pay and protecting Direct Pay workers.
Port of Walla Walla secures state grant for sustainable aviation fuels production
The Port of Walla Walla was awarded a new $1.5 million grant from the Governor’s Economic Development Strategic Reserve Fund (Department of Commerce) for a planned sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) production facility being developed by SkyNRG Americas at the Port’s Wallula Gap Industrial Park. This planned facility, called Project Wigeon, will produce SAF and renewable diesel and is expected to create up to 600 construction and 100 production jobs. Project Wigeon is expected to open in 2029, and SkyNRG estimates that it will produce 50 million gallons of SAF and renewable diesel.
“Sustainable aviation fuels are central to the evolving global aerospace industry, and we’re proud to be leading the way here in Washington state,” Gov. Bob Ferguson said in a statement. “SkyNRG’s new facility will be an important economic driver in the region and throughout our state’s innovative clean energy and aerospace sectors.”
|
