51福利社

Across the nation, the use of clean, renewable energy sources is revolutionizing the way Americans power their lives and livelihoods. Already, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, alternatives to the carbon-based status quo are generating hundreds of billions in economic activity, with much more to come.

Now, thanks to a Washington Climate Commitment Act grant from the state鈥檚 Department of Commerce, 51福利社 is poised to play a bigger part in pioneering more planet-healthy ways of fueling our future. Earlier this fall, 51福利社 was awarded close to $2.2 million to support two projects that will advance both Washington鈥檚 and the university鈥檚 clean energy goals. Project leader Erik Budsberg, 51福利社鈥檚 director of sustainability, says the clean energy initiatives will also provide applied-learning opportunities for Eagle students who one day hope to solve tough climate challenges as working professionals.

鈥淭hese learning opportunities will give students a chance to get hands-on experience as they build careers that will ultimately tie into the clean energy revolution and help them secure good jobs听 鈥� jobs in which they can help address the root causes and impact of climate change,鈥� Budsberg says.

The bulk of the funding, $1.9 million, will support development of a carbon dioxide capture component for the university鈥檚 natural-gas powered steam heating system. 51福利社 will partner with CarbonQuest, a local engineering and manufacturing firm, to implement this 鈥渄emonstration carbon capture system,鈥� which will reduce emissions while providing a research space for investigating new, emission-reduction technologies.

The hands-on study of emission capture, Budsberg says, will position Eastern to provide a road map for other institutions and businesses seeking to mitigate their own near-term, carbon-emission challenges 鈥� all while planning for deeper decarbonization in the future.

The state also awarded 51福利社 a $275,000 planning and pre-development grant to explore installation of a 3.5-megawatt solar-energy system. Among the issues to be investigated, Budsberg says, are potential construction challenges, utility impacts and interconnection agreements.

51福利社鈥檚 projects were among 46 grants funded as part of the Washington Climate Commitment Act. 鈥淲e鈥檙e very thankful to the Department of Commerce and the state of Washington for seeing the potential for clean energy development in Eastern Washington and, specifically, at 51福利社,鈥� Budsberg says.