Page 3 - Chehalis Tribal Newsletter - May 2024

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Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp Perez tours Tenino with Chehalis
Tribe Chairman Dustin Klatush in this Chronicle file photo.
Tribe lands $251,000

for solar installation

Project funded through Climate Commitment Act

By The Chronicle on a feasibility study to develop
additional strategies for the future.
Tribes in Southwest This award is truly a win-win.”
Washington will receive more than The Cowlitz Indian Tribe
$4.5 million in funds from the will receive $1.7 million to build
Climate Commitment Act (CCA) a 100-kilowatt solar array and
to fund clean energy projects, battery energy storage system on
according to an announcement administrative and clinic buildings
from the Washington state that will power the buildings and
Department of Commerce. provide supplemental power for
Five tribes throughout the electric vehicle charging.
state will receive $7.5 million in Willapa Bay Enterprises,
grant funding, part of $16 million which was established by the
earmarked for tribal clean energy Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe, will
projects. Additionally, the CCA receive $2,740,000 to “support
includes $67 million for projects the design, permitting, siting and
that advance environmental construction of technology that
justice and equity. produces zero emission hydrogen
According to the Commerce from ocean wave energy.”
Department, the Confederated The Department of Commerce
Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation is expected to announce additional
will receive $251,000 to build grant recipients later this year.
a 121-kilowatt roof-mounted “The Climate Commitment
solar installation on the tribe’s Act recognizes that communities
community center, and to conduct will not feel the effects of climate
a feasibility study on the potential change equally,” Commerce
for future battery storage. Director Mike Fong said in a
“This is a great opportunity statement. “We know that there
for the Chehalis Tribe and the is a history of (the) government
Department of Commerce to work assuming it knows best when it
together on the common goal of comes to what communities need,
reducing our carbon footprint and we’re intentionally reversing
within Washington state,” Chehalis that thought process. We hope
Tribe Chairman Dustin Klatush this is the first of many funding
said. “The tribe’s use of solar opportunities that responds
panels at our Community Center directly to what people tell us they
will bring immediate results need.”
toward that goal while embarking Posted Wednesday, May 29