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Snohomish PUD Lands $3.5 Million Clean Energy Grant by Staff SC News, September 20, 2016 2016

To demonstrate new energy technologies including energy storage, a microgrid system, small-scale renewable energy and an electric "vehicle to grid" system, Snohomish County Public Utility District (PUD) will receive $3.5 million in matching funds from the Washington Clean Energy Fund.

When Governor Jay Inslee announced the grant, he said the funding will provide support for engineering and construction work,

PUD will work with Arlington Microgrid and Clean Energy Technology Center to create an educational visitor center to show how all of these technologies can work together to improve grid resiliency, disaster recovery and renewable energy integration.

Local agencies, students, teachers and the community can learn about these emerging energy technologies and how they can be used to provide electricity to critical infrastructure during disaster recovery.

Design and construction for the Arlington project is scheduled for 2017-2019.

PUD will install an energy storage system at a second Everett substation this fall, a move toward making economically and operationally viable energy storage.

This approach is different than past energy storage projects, because it will help solve the changing needs of today's electrical grid, which depends more on intermittent resources such as wind and solar.

"With these awards, our leading utilities will demonstrate how to integrate battery storage with solar energy and stand-alone energy systems, train the workforce to build and maintain these systems and lead the industry into the clean energy future," Gov. Inslee said.

The grant to the PUD was one of five from the Clean Energy Fund, totaling $12.6 million. Other utilities awarded were Avista, Seattle City Light, Orcas Power and Light and Energy Northwest.

PUD CEO and General Manager Craig Collar said the grant will help the company demonstrate how microgrids are the logical next step in integrating renewable energy and energy storage into the electrical grid.