{"id":60644,"date":"2024-04-01T15:28:32","date_gmt":"2024-04-01T19:28:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/pennsylvania\/?page_id=60644"},"modified":"2024-04-11T11:14:23","modified_gmt":"2024-04-11T15:14:23","slug":"centralia-wa","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/pennsylvania\/centralia-wa\/","title":{"rendered":"In Washington state, coal plant shutdown came with a deal setting up a town for what\u2019s next. Pennsylvania hasn\u2019t seen ideas like this"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Centralia, Washington\u2019s coal-fired power plant is closing by the end of 2025.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Pennsylvania\u2019s robust fossil-fuel economy intersects with the drive to cut carbon emissions that fuel climate change. Could Centralia, Washington\u2019s plan hold lessons for an energy transition?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As part of a deal with the state, plant owner TransAlta agreed to set up a $55 million fund to help the community transition.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Coal Transition Fund was divided into three pots: $25 million for energy technology, $20 million for community and economic development and $10 million for weatherization and energy efficiency upgrades. Grants are awarded by a board made up of people from labor and environment groups and the plant. The board started sending out money in 2016.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grants have gone to areas such as public safety, conservation, battery research, solar energy and electric buses for schools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Here are stories of where some of the money is going.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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\"An<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Coal transition: How a weatherization grant helped a music venue build community<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Rachel McDevitt<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"An<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Coal transition: Betting on hydrogen with an energy technology grant<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Rachel McDevitt<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"Rainbow<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Coal transition: Raising fish and a workforce with an economic development grant<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Rachel McDevitt<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n

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Rachel McDevitt with StateImpact Pennsylvania and digital producer Jeremy Long traveled to Centralia, Washington, where the last coal-fired power plant in that state is scheduled to shut down in 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n