Clean Energy Siting and Permitting Grants

The Washington State Department of Commerce is offering approximately $4.85 million in funding through the Clean Energy Siting and Permitting (CESP) Grants program to support local governments and federally recognized tribes in planning and process improvements related to clean energy development. These grants are intended to reduce permitting delays, support site-readiness, and facilitate efficient and transparent permitting processes that promote clean energy infrastructure throughout Washington. The opportunity is aligned with state-level energy policies such as the 2021 Washington State Energy Strategy and the Healthy Environment for All (HEAL) Act. Applicants may submit proposals for projects that directly improve clean energy siting and permitting efforts. Eligible activities include pre-development work for energy project sites, land-use planning, programmatic environmental impact statements (EIS), and hiring of staff or consultants to improve review timelines and interagency coordination. Projects must focus on clean energy projects within Washington state, particularly those involving technologies like solar, wind, and energy storage systems. Funded efforts should be aimed at improving certainty and predictability in permitting and enhancing local readiness for future clean energy investments. This grant opportunity is open to a wide array of public-sector entities, including counties, cities, towns, port districts, special-purpose districts, municipal and quasi-municipal corporations, and federally recognized tribes. All applicants must either be currently licensed to do business in Washington or commit to obtaining licensing within 30 days of award. Proposed projects must align with Washington’s state energy strategy and demonstrate readiness to begin immediately upon award. Priority is given to applicants that have received or reviewed clean energy permitting applications since 2022 for projects of at least 10 megawatts, as well as to tribes and jurisdictions in areas of high clean energy development interest. Award sizes range from $30,000 to $1,200,000, and all funds are reimbursed based on accepted deliverables. While matching funds are not required, applications that document match may receive preference in scoring tie-breakers. Matching sources may include local investments, in-kind contributions, or non-state funding. Projects may be supported entirely through this program, but duplication of costs across grants is prohibited. Contracts will be performance-based and may include milestone payments, with final payment dependent on successful project completion by June 2027. Applications must be submitted electronically via ZoomGrants no later than October 9, 2025, by 11:59 AM Pacific Time. The application portal opens September 3, 2025, and applicants are encouraged to attend a virtual Pre-Application Conference scheduled for September 11, 2025, at 1:00 PM. Applicants will be notified of award status between October 27 and November 7, 2025, with contract negotiation expected to begin immediately afterward. Projects may begin once contracts are executed, and Commerce reserves the right to extend agreements for up to two additional one-year periods, contingent on funding availability. All grant recipients must comply with reporting requirements, including quarterly project updates and a final report summarizing accomplishments. Projects funded in whole or in part by the Climate Commitment Act (CCA) must include public acknowledgments and follow branding requirements for any outreach, signage, or communication materials. For application questions, applicants should contact the RFA Coordinator, Esther Nielsen, at epicgrants@commerce.wa.gov.

Submit early and review minimum qualifications carefully. Partial or late submissions are disqualified. Attendance at the pre-proposal conference is optional but encouraged.