Apply now: Clean energy siting and permitting grants available
Commerce is accepting applications for $4.85 million in clean energy siting and permitting grants
Commerce is accepting applications for Clean Energy Siting and Permitting (CESP) grants to support local governments and tribes in improving the siting and permitting of clean energy development 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.
Funding details
- Funding available: $4.85 million
- Award range: $30,000-$1,200,000
- No match required (cash or in-kind match encouraged)
Eligible applicants
- Port districts
- Counties, cities and towns
- Special-purpose districts
- Other municipal or quasi-municipal corporations
- Federally recognized tribes
Applicants must be licensed to do business in Washington (or commit to doing so within 30 days of award) and be in good standing with applicable laws.
Priority will be given to:
- Applicants that demonstrate project readiness with a detailed plan to start immediately upon award
- Applicants that present clear objectives with a feasible, detailed plan including necessary pre-development and feasibility work
- Projects that focus specifically on clean energy siting and permitting within Washington
- Tribes and jurisdictions that have received, reviewed, or supported a permitting application since 2022 for clean energy projects with a capacity of at least 10 megawatts (MW), including renewable generation, non-emitting generation, energy storage, or a combination of these resources.
Eligible projects
Projects must directly improve clean energy siting and permitting processes in Washington. Examples include:
- Predevelopment work
- Land use and environmental studies
- Planning efforts such as planned actions or programmatic environmental impact statements
- Staffing to improve permitting timelines and certainty
Timeline
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Sept. 3, 2025: Application period opens.
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Sept. 11, 2025: Pre-Proposal conference (1 p.m.).
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Sept. 18, 2025: Q&A period closes (5 p.m.).
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Oct. 9, 2025: Completed applications must be submitted by 11:59 a.m.
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Oct. 27-Nov. 7, 2025: Award decisions sent to selected and non-selected applicants.
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Dec.1, 2025: Earliest date the contract may be signed.
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June 30, 2027: All projects must be completed.
How to apply
Applicants should submit one application per project to apply for grant funding, and they may submit applications for multiple projects.
Access the CESP program documents (Box) for full eligibility, evaluation criteria, application materials, instructions for applying, listening session resources, and weekly Q&A documents.
Questions?
Contact [email protected] and please check the EPIC webpage often for updates.
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