Clean Energy Siting and Permitting Grants

The Washington State Department of Commerce is offering $4.85 million in Clean Energy Siting and Permitting Grants to support local governments and tribes in enhancing clean energy project processes. This funding aims to streamline siting and permitting for projects like solar and wind energy, facilitating predevelopment work and interagency coordination. Eligible applicants include port districts, cities, and federally recognized tribes, with priority given to those demonstrating project readiness and alignment with clean energy goals.

Commerce is now accepting applications for $4.85 million in Clean Energy Siting and Permitting (CESP) grants to help local governments and tribes improve the siting and permitting of clean energy projects across Washington state.
The CESP program funds planning and process improvements that reduce barriers, streamline reviews, and help communities prepare for clean energy projects such as solar, wind, and energy storage. Eligible activities include predevelopment work for potential sites, land use studies, planning efforts such as planned actions or programmatic environmental impact statements, and hiring staff to make the permitting process faster and more predictable.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants
Port districtsCounties, cities and townsSpecial-purpose districtsOther municipal or quasi-municipal corporationsFederally recognized tribesEligible projectsProjects must directly improve clean energy siting and permitting processes in Washington. Examples include:Pre-development work for clean energy project sitesLand use studies and planned actionsProgrammatic environmental impact statements (EIS)Hiring staff or consultants to speed up permittingImproving permitting workflows and interagency coordination