The Washington State Department of Commerce has announced over $1.6 million in grants in support of solar energy.

OneEnergy Renewables ($500,000) will use the funds for a solar project with private utility PacifiCorp in Sunnyside, Wash. The project will provide power to the distribution side of PacifiCorp’s network, reducing the need to buy additional electricity from the energy market to meet peak demand.

Peninsula Light Co. ($139,860), a member-owned electric cooperative based in Gig Harbor, Wash., will use the grant funds to provide solar incentives and billing credits that will benefit members serving low-income customers.

TUUSSO Energy ($1 million) will use the funding for the Urtica solar project, currently under development in Ellensburg, Wash. Once operational, the project will supply power to Puget Sound Energy.

The funding comes from the state’s Clean Energy Fund, which, since 2013, has “helped incentivize public and private utilities and their partners to accelerate deployment of renewable energy technologies,” according to Lisa Brown, commerce director.

“Advancing the low-carbon economy is strengthening communities around the state by creating jobs, providing energy savings and supporting new green energy programs for utility customers,” she says.

This is the first funding provided under a new solar deployment grant program added to the Clean Energy Fund in 2018. The Department of Commerce is also currently accepting applications for up to $2.2 million in grants for qualifying projects.