Clean Energy Blog
Stay up to date on the latest news related to clean energy in our region and beyond.
NREL Studying if Seaweed Could be Mined for Critical Minerals
A team searches for seaweed samples on the shore of Moira Bay, Alaska. Photo by Stefanie Van Wychen, NREL In the spring, NREL chemist Stefanie Van Wychen and a team of five departed Juneau, Alaska, and flew to Ketchikan, a city known for its “feisty salmon,”...
Snohomish County PUD’s unique microgrid site to open
Grant funded by the state's Clean Energy Fund, the Snohomish County PUD microgrid site in Arlington, WA is currently undergoing testing and commissioning and scheduled to be fully operational in a few months. The Arlington Microgrid project is funded in part by a $3.5...
Washington State pilot project leads the way to produce clean hydrogen energy
The Douglas County Public Utility District in eastern Washington is making a $20 million investment in a new, clean energy business. Where an old apple orchard existed, a small portion of the electricity from the district's Wells Dam will be harnessed to make hydrogen...
Clean Energy educational resources for K-12
The Clean Energy Wiki, hosted by the University of Washington Clean Energy Institute, offers teaching and learning resources for K-12 on solar energy and other topics related to clean energy. See Clean Energy Wiki.
Solar power continues to get cheaper
The price of electricity from solar panels continues to plummet and is one of the driving forces in the transition to clean energy. The Department of Energy is aiming to cut the price of utility-scale solar by more than half by 2030. Government policies and scientific...
National offshore wind goal to support 77,000 jobs
U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm recently announced an ambitious new 30GW offshore wind deployment target by 2030. The national offshore wind goal is expected to support 77,000 jobs, power 10 million homes, and cut 78 million metric tons in carbon...
Grid modernization under the Clean Energy Fund
The Washington State Department of Commerce has open applications through May 18, 2021, for new funding opportunities through its Clean Energy Fund (CEF). CEF provides funding for Washington electric utilities for Grid Modernization projects that: advance clean,...
Automakers race to develop solid-state vehicle battery
As more consumers are looking to buy their first electric vehicle, the competition is growing among automakers to develop a solid-state battery that costs less and has a longer range. Transitioning from an auto industry that runs mostly on gasoline and diesel to one...
Renewables pass coal in electricity generation
A clean energy milestone was set in 2020 when renewables surpassed coal in electricity generation, according to Inside Climate News. The continuing rise of wind and solar power, its low cost, and the steady performance of hydroelectric power, all contributed to U.S....
$3.7M awarded for solar installations in low-income communities
The Washington State Department of Commerce announced $3.7 million in grants for nine solar energy projects across the state. The projects will result in a total $6.1 million reduction in the energy burden of low-income households and nonprofits serving low-income...