States, Cities and Counties
Here's a look at documents covering state government, cities and counties
Featured Stories
Wyo. Gov. Gordon Congratulates Former New Mexico Congressman Steve Pearce
CHEYENNE, Wyoming, May 20 -- Gov. Mark Gordon, R-Wyoming, issued the following statement on May 19, 2026, regarding the U.S. Senate confirmation of former Rep. Stevan Pearce, R-New Mexico, as director of the Bureau of Land Management:
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Governor Gordon Congratulates Former New Mexico Congressman Steve Pearce
"Former Congressman Steve Pearce is uniquely qualified to lead the Bureau of Land Management.
He knows the importance of the agency's multiple-use mandate and values local and state input on land management decisions.
It is gratifying to see his confirmation to this vital role.
I
... Show Full Article
CHEYENNE, Wyoming, May 20 -- Gov. Mark Gordon, R-Wyoming, issued the following statement on May 19, 2026, regarding the U.S. Senate confirmation of former Rep. Stevan Pearce, R-New Mexico, as director of the Bureau of Land Management:
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Governor Gordon Congratulates Former New Mexico Congressman Steve Pearce
"Former Congressman Steve Pearce is uniquely qualified to lead the Bureau of Land Management.
He knows the importance of the agency's multiple-use mandate and values local and state input on land management decisions.
It is gratifying to see his confirmation to this vital role.
Ilook forward to working with him on issues critical to Wyoming such as oil, gas, and coal leasing, sage-grouse, recreation, resource management plans, wild horse management, and grazing."
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Original text here: https://governor.wyo.gov/news-releases/governor-gordon-congratulates-former-new-mexico-congressman-steve-pearce
Virginia Transformer Plant Will Bring 1,100 Jobs to Northwest Alabama
MONTGOMERY, Alabama, May 20 -- The Alabama Department of Commerce posted the following news:
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Virginia Transformer plant will bring 1,100 jobs to northwest Alabama
Manufacturer Virginia Transformer on Tuesday announced plans for a 600,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art power transformer plant in Muscle Shoals.
When complete, the facility will employ 1,100 people. Construction at the Shoals Research Airpark in Colbert County will begin immediately and initial production is expected to begin in January 2028.
Virginia Transformer, based in Roanoke, Va., is the largest power transformer
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MONTGOMERY, Alabama, May 20 -- The Alabama Department of Commerce posted the following news:
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Virginia Transformer plant will bring 1,100 jobs to northwest Alabama
Manufacturer Virginia Transformer on Tuesday announced plans for a 600,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art power transformer plant in Muscle Shoals.
When complete, the facility will employ 1,100 people. Construction at the Shoals Research Airpark in Colbert County will begin immediately and initial production is expected to begin in January 2028.
Virginia Transformer, based in Roanoke, Va., is the largest power transformermanufacturer in North America. The Muscle Shoals site will be the company's seventh and capable of producing a range of power transformers, from two Megavolt-Amperes (MVA) up to 500 MVA.
"Muscle Shoals is known around the world for its musical legacy, but companies like Virginia Transformer know the Shoals can make a lot more than music," Governor Kay Ivey said. "With a driven, skilled workforce, our business-friendly climate and unbeatable quality of life, the Shoals and all of Alabama are indeed open for business.
"Virginia Transformer will add value to the community with this advanced-manufacturing investment and employment opportunities."
The plant will be built on about 90 acres within the Shoals Research Airpark.
Earlier this month, Governor Ivey announced the park is receiving about $4.5 million for site work and public infrastructure through the Growing Alabama Tax Credit program, which uses private dollars to improve publicly owned sites for economic development.
"With locations in multiple states, we know Virginia Transformer has options when deciding on a new site," said Commerce Secretary Ellen McNair. "Alabama is proud to offer the right combination of infrastructure, capable workforce and community partners to make Virginia Transformer's expansion a success."
The site's dedicated Norfolk Southern rail spur will guarantee Virginia Transformer's shipping and supply chain needs are met.
"For more than 50 years, Virginia Transformer's growth has been driven by our commitment to delivering for our customers. We are The Commitment Company," said Prabhat Jain, CEO of Virginia Transformer. "This investment represents the latest step in our ongoing expansion across North America, will create our seventh manufacturing facility, and reflects our confidence in the markets and customers we serve, as well as our dedicated workforce.
The Muscle Shoals plant will serve customers across utilities, data centers, renewable energy, industrial and other markets in the US and Canada.
"Virginia Transformer's decision to locate its newest manufacturing facility in the Shoals is a powerful endorsement of Northwest Alabama's highly skilled manufacturing workforce, strategic location, and capacity for continued industrial growth," said Kevin Jackson, president of the Shoals Economic Development Authority. "For generations, the Shoals has built a reputation for producing talented men and women who excel in advanced manufacturing environments, and that workforce will be a tremendous asset as Virginia Transformer grows its operations here.
"This project was made possible through strong collaboration among our many economic development partners, and we look forward to building a long-lasting partnership with Virginia Transformer that benefits the company and our region for years to come."
The new site is in addition to the expansion work underway at the company's Rincon, Ga. facility near Savannah. It will increase the installed capacity there by 50%. The Rincon expansion will be completed in March of 2027.
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Original text here: https://www.madeinalabama.com/2026/05/virginia-transformer-plant-will-bring-1100-jobs-to-northwest-alabama/
Seat Belts and Child Restraints Save Lives: N.J. A.G. Davenport and Division of Highway Traffic Safety Announce 2026 'Click It or Ticket' Campaign
TRENTON, New Jersey, May 20 -- New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport issued the following news release on May 18, 2026:
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Seat Belts and Child Restraints Save Lives: Attorney General Davenport and Division of Highway Traffic Safety Announce 2026 'Click It or Ticket' Campaign
Attorney General Jennifer Davenport and the Division of Highway Traffic Safety today announced the start of New Jersey's annual "Click It or Ticket" campaign, a statewide high-visibility enforcement and public awareness effort to increase seat belt use and reduce preventable deaths and injuries on New Jersey
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TRENTON, New Jersey, May 20 -- New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport issued the following news release on May 18, 2026:
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Seat Belts and Child Restraints Save Lives: Attorney General Davenport and Division of Highway Traffic Safety Announce 2026 'Click It or Ticket' Campaign
Attorney General Jennifer Davenport and the Division of Highway Traffic Safety today announced the start of New Jersey's annual "Click It or Ticket" campaign, a statewide high-visibility enforcement and public awareness effort to increase seat belt use and reduce preventable deaths and injuries on New Jerseyroadways.
From May 18 to May 31, increased patrols will be conducted across the state. Officers will be looking for unbuckled drivers and passengers and checking that children are properly secured in appropriate car seats or booster seats, or using seat belts. This campaign is part of a nationwide effort to emphasize that proper restraint use is effective and saves lives.
To support this effort, the Division of Highway Traffic Safety is providing $774,760 in grant funding to 113 law enforcement agencies in New Jersey for seat belt enforcement, child passenger restraint compliance, and related public awareness activities.
"Compliance with New Jersey's seat belt and child passenger safety laws is a critical public safety priority," said Attorney General Davenport. "As New Jersey works toward a future with zero roadway fatalities, we must do everything we can to protect ourselves and our passengers, particularly the youngest and most vulnerable. Every driver and passenger can take one immediate step to protect themselves and others: buckle up and make sure every child is properly secured on every trip."
Under New Jersey law, drivers and passengers are required to wear seat belts, and drivers are responsible for ensuring that passengers under the age of 18 are properly restrained. Children under age 8 and shorter than 57 inches must be secured in the appropriate child passenger restraint system, based on the child's age, height, and weight. While seat belt use remains high in New Jersey, safety officials continue to emphasize that every seating position matters, including the back seat, and that child restraints must be used correctly to provide their full lifesaving benefit.
Front-seat seat belt use in New Jersey reached nearly 95 percent following last year's "Click It or Ticket" campaign, according to an annual observational study conducted by the New Jersey Institute of Technology and funded by the Division of Highway Traffic Safety. That is 4 percentage points higher than the national average.
"New Jersey has made important progress, and most drivers understand that seat belts save lives," said Michael J. Rizol Jr., Director of the Division of Highway Traffic Safety. "But there is still more work to do. Everyone should buckle up, no matter where they are seated. While front-seat seat belt use remains high, too many back-seat passengers continue to ride unrestrained. One unbuckled passenger puts everyone in the vehicle at risk. Everyone needs to buckle up, and every child needs to be properly restrained, every seat, every trip."
In 2024, 135 people killed in New Jersey crashes were not wearing seat belts, and unrestrained occupants accounted for 43 percent of all vehicle occupant fatalities. Among those unrestrained fatalities, one in four people were between the ages of 21 and 30.
During the 2025 "Click It or Ticket" campaign, participating agencies issued 5,352 seat belt summonses, 2,624 speeding summonses, and 706 cell phone violations. Those results reflect the broader safety focus of high-visibility enforcement efforts, which identify and deter dangerous driving behaviors and restraint violations that contribute to crashes, injuries, and fatalities.
This year's "Click It or Ticket" campaign will overlap with Memorial Day weekend, one of the busiest travel periods of the year. In New Jersey, the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day has historically been a dangerous time on the roads, with increased travel and a heightened risk of crashes. The Division of Highway Traffic Safety will continue to coordinate and fund additional enforcement initiatives during the summer months, including efforts targeting speeding, impaired driving, and violations of New Jersey's Move Over law.
The Division of Highway Traffic Safety urges everyone traveling in New Jersey to make restraint use automatic. Buckle up before the vehicle moves, require every passenger to do the same, and make sure children are secured in the right car seat, booster seat, or seat belt for their age and size.
View Grantee List (http://www.njoag.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2026-0518_CIOT-2026-Final-Grantee-List.pdf)
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Original text here: https://www.njoag.gov/seat-belts-and-child-restraints-save-lives-attorney-general-davenport-and-division-of-highway-traffic-safety-announce-2026-click-it-or-ticket-campaign/
N.M. Public Safety Dept.: 39 Cadets Graduate New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy
SANTA FE, New Mexico, May 20 -- The New Mexico Department of Public Safety issued the following news release:
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39 cadets graduate New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy
Thirty-nine cadets representing 18 agencies across New Mexico officially joined the ranks of New Mexico law enforcement Tuesday after completing basic training.
The curriculum included more than 750 hours of training in domestic violence and police response, crisis intervention, mental and emotional health, laws and procedures including criminal and juvenile law, evidence collection, surveillance, identification of suspects,
... Show Full Article
SANTA FE, New Mexico, May 20 -- The New Mexico Department of Public Safety issued the following news release:
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39 cadets graduate New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy
Thirty-nine cadets representing 18 agencies across New Mexico officially joined the ranks of New Mexico law enforcement Tuesday after completing basic training.
The curriculum included more than 750 hours of training in domestic violence and police response, crisis intervention, mental and emotional health, laws and procedures including criminal and juvenile law, evidence collection, surveillance, identification of suspects,basic firearms, and more.
"We commend these cadets for their dedication and look forward to the impact they will make in their careers," said New Mexico Department of Public Safety Deputy Cabinet Secretary Sylvia Serna. "The Basic Police Officer Training at the Law Enforcement Academy plays a vital role in preparing future officers to serve communities across New Mexico. Our standards are rigorous because the responsibilities of law enforcement demand excellence.
Robert Ferrerya was the lead instructor/class coordinator with Robert Girmendonk, and Sam Gordillo assisting at the academy under the leadership and direction of Academy Deputy Director of Instruction Jason Foster.
Class 211 cadets include:
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Name ... Agency
Acosta, Carlos ... Roswell Police Department
Apodaca, Nicholas J ... Las Vegas Police Department
Balbino, Antonio ... Roswell Police Department
Begay, Nehemiah A ... McKinley County Sheriff's Office
Benally, Mandi ... McKinley County Sheriff's Office
Bymoen, Colin ... Ruidoso Police Department
Comer, Travis ... Los Lunas Police Department
DeHerrera, Isaiah M ... Rio Rancho Police Department
Flores, Antonio ... Santa Fe Police Department
Gene, Natasha ... Gallup Police Department
Gibson, Colt ... Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office
Gonzales, Aaron ... Roswell Police Department
Gutierrez, Jay ... Ruidoso Police Department
Holguin, Andres ... Curry County Sheriff's Office
Jackson, Pecos ... New Mexico Livestock Board Inspec. Div
Jaramillo, Noah ... Rio Rancho Police Department
Kemp, Gordon Lewis ... Tularosa Police Department
Lopez, Ray Adam ... Taos County Sheriff's Office
Lovato, Nathan A ... Taos County Sheriff's Office
Martell, Keidy ... Roswell Police Department
Orsburn, Joseph ... Santa Fe Police Department
Ortiz, Aliehs D ... Rio Rancho Police Department
Portillo, Miguel ... Santa Fe Police Department
Quinonez, Omar ... Socorro Police Department
Riley, Derrek L ... Taos Police Department
Rodriguez, Lance R ... Rio Rancho Police Department
Rojas, Angel Jose ... Rio Communities Police Department
Romero, Julian Isaiah ... Santa Fe Police Department
Sanchez, Bryce ... Roswell Police Department
Sandoval, Jacob Matthew ... Santa Fe Police Department
Sandoval, Steven I ... Las Vegas Police Department
Szabo, Kate Mariee ... Espanola Police Department
Townsend, Tommy Gun ... Carrizozo Police Department
Trujillo, Alexander Carpio ... Santa Fe Police Department
Valenzuela, Dominic Kameron ... Rio Rancho Police Department
Varela, Iris Maggaly ... Santa Fe Police Department
Vasquez, Gabriel Jason ... Santa Fe Police Department
Villa, Luis ... Roswell Police Department
Villalobos, Dominic ... Roswell Police Department
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Original text here: https://www.dps.nm.gov/blog/2026/05/19/13730/
N.H. Gov. Ayotte Signs Law Expanding Gold Star License Plate Program
CONCORD, New Hampshire, May 20 -- Gov. Kelly Ayotte, R-New Hampshire, issued the following news release on May 19, 2026:
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Governor Ayotte Signs Law Expanding Gold Star License Plate Program
Ahead of Memorial Day, Governor Ayotte today signed into law House Bill 1078, expanding the State's Gold Star License Plate Program to include Gold Star Fathers and other immediate family members. The program previously applied only to Gold Star Mothers.
The Governor was joined by more than a dozen New Hampshire Gold Star Families, along with legislators, state leaders, and military and veteran services
... Show Full Article
CONCORD, New Hampshire, May 20 -- Gov. Kelly Ayotte, R-New Hampshire, issued the following news release on May 19, 2026:
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Governor Ayotte Signs Law Expanding Gold Star License Plate Program
Ahead of Memorial Day, Governor Ayotte today signed into law House Bill 1078, expanding the State's Gold Star License Plate Program to include Gold Star Fathers and other immediate family members. The program previously applied only to Gold Star Mothers.
The Governor was joined by more than a dozen New Hampshire Gold Star Families, along with legislators, state leaders, and military and veteran servicesgroups, to honor Granite Staters who have died defending our nation.
"Ahead of Memorial Day, I'm proud to sign HB 1078 to honor the families of America's fallen heroes and expand the Gold Star license plate program to include all immediate family members," said Governor Ayotte.
"This is a commitment to our Gold Star Families that New Hampshire will never forget their loved ones' service and sacrifice. May God continue to bless these families."
License plates will be available to Gold Star Fathers and other immediate family members starting January 1, 2027, and may be requested through the Office of the Commissioner at the New Hampshire Department of Safety.
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Original text here: https://www.governor.nh.gov/news/governor-ayotte-signs-law-expanding-gold-star-license-plate-program
Minn. Gov. Walz Signs Bills on May 19, 2026
ST. PAUL, Minnesota, May 20 -- Gov. Tim Walz, D-Minnesota, issued the following news release on May 19, 2026:
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Governor Walz Signs Bills
Advancing public safety, strengthening election integrity, and improving workforce and environmental investments
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Today, Governor Tim Walz signed eight bills.
SF 4760, the omnibus public safety policy bill, includes financial crimes and fraud prevention provisions, clarifies the public safety officer line-of-duty death benefit, modifies correctional policies, prohibits prediction markets from operating in Minnesota, and extends a number of public safety,
... Show Full Article
ST. PAUL, Minnesota, May 20 -- Gov. Tim Walz, D-Minnesota, issued the following news release on May 19, 2026:
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Governor Walz Signs Bills
Advancing public safety, strengthening election integrity, and improving workforce and environmental investments
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Today, Governor Tim Walz signed eight bills.
SF 4760, the omnibus public safety policy bill, includes financial crimes and fraud prevention provisions, clarifies the public safety officer line-of-duty death benefit, modifies correctional policies, prohibits prediction markets from operating in Minnesota, and extends a number of public safety,victim services, and preventions grants.
HF 3404, increases penalties for impersonating a peace officer.
SF 3210, amends the policy statement of the Minnesota Human Rights Act.
HF 1141, funds housing programs including the Greater Minnesota Workforce Housing Program, the Family Homeless Prevention and Assistance Program, and Housing Infrastructure Bonds.
HF 4239, updates campaign finance and political communication laws by strengthening disclosure requirements, expanding disclaimer requirements, and clarifying allowable campaign-related spending.
HF 4240, makes technical changes to election administration and absentee voting, classifies certain Campaign Finance Board data as private, and allows candidates and political parties to pay for security services.
SF 3720, adopts the 2026 recommendations of the Workers' Compensation Advisory Council.
HF 3426, appropriates money from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF), including the first round of Community Grants funding to be administered by the Department of Natural Resources.
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Original text here: https://mn.gov/governor/newsroom/press-releases/#/detail/appId/1/id/749427
Commerce Awards More Than $60 Million for Clean Energy and Grid Resilience Projects Statewide
OLYMPIA, Washington, May 20 -- The Washington State Department of Commerce issued the following news:
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Commerce awards more than $60 million for clean energy and grid resilience projects statewide
Investments support solar, battery storage, grid upgrades and predevelopment planning in 32 counties
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Nearly 100 clean energy projects across Washington are closer to reality thanks to a $60.4 million investment from the Washington State Department of Commerce. Many of the projects, located in 33 of Washington's 39 counties, will be online soon to reduce emissions and help lower energy bills.
"These
... Show Full Article
OLYMPIA, Washington, May 20 -- The Washington State Department of Commerce issued the following news:
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Commerce awards more than $60 million for clean energy and grid resilience projects statewide
Investments support solar, battery storage, grid upgrades and predevelopment planning in 32 counties
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Nearly 100 clean energy projects across Washington are closer to reality thanks to a $60.4 million investment from the Washington State Department of Commerce. Many of the projects, located in 33 of Washington's 39 counties, will be online soon to reduce emissions and help lower energy bills.
"Theseinvestments demonstrate Commerce's commitment to moving projects quickly from concept to construction," said Commerce Interim Director Sarah Clifthorne. "I'm excited we're helping neighborhoods become more resilient and helping make clean energy more affordable"
The 96 new awards are in addition to $16.8 million for tribal clean energy awards announced in April. In total, Commerce has invested $77.2 million in 118 community clean energy projects this spring.
The new awards are from several Commerce programs: Clean Energy Grants, Clean Energy Siting and Permitting, Thermal Energy Networks, Clean Energy Technical Assistance, and the Washington Grid Resilience Program.
View the full list of awards (https://deptofcommerce.app.box.com/s/w2nwmjejsma7szbiqglsvzzk0unht6hv/file/2186961522658).
Clean Energy Grants Program
Commerce awarded $34.8 million to 57 projects in 33 counties supporting solar installations, battery energy storage systems, microgrids, biomass facilities and renewable hydrogen technologies.
Many projects will provide backup power for community facilities such as schools, emergency centers and fire districts, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The program streamlines access to funding by combining multiple state funding sources into a single application.
"Skamania County Fire District 6 is an all-volunteer district remotely located on the southeast side of Mount Saint Helens in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest," said Jerry Sauer, Fire District 6 Commissioner Chairman in Skamania County Fire Protection District 6. "This grant will supply us adequate power in catastrophic events and keep continuous power for critical communications needed for BLS (Basic Life Support) ambulance and firefighting activities."
Clean Energy Siting and Permitting Program
Commerce awarded $3.5 million to six projects that improve local siting and permitting processes for clean energy development. Funding supports site readiness, predevelopment work, land-use studies, environmental review and staffing capacity to help communities move projects forward more efficiently.
"We are excited for the opportunity to improve our county permitting processes and standards through a Clean Energy Programmatic EIS (environmental impact statement)," said Chad Bala, Kittitas County Community Development Services director. "We appreciate the Washington State Department of Commerce providing this opportunity and look forward to a result that will simultaneously benefit the residents of our county and assist in the state's climate initiatives."
Clean Energy Technical Assistance
Commerce awarded technical assistance grants to 21 entities to provide no-cost feasibility studies for solar and battery projects, an estimated total value of $429,000. After the studies are complete, Commerce will identify viable, cost-effective projects for potential future legislative funding.
Thermal Energy Networks Pilot Project
Commerce awarded $4.9 million through the Thermal Energy Networks Pilot Program to support three utility-owned district energy systems.
These systems use shared underground thermal loops to deliver efficient heating and cooling to multiple buildings, replacing combustion-based systems with geothermal, solar thermal and recovered waste heat. The new systems reduce emissions, improve indoor air quality and increase resilience during extreme usage peaks, such as heat waves and cold snaps.
Washington Grid Resilience Program
Commerce conditionally awarded more than $17.1 million of state match and federal funding from the U.S. Department of Energy's Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grants Program to strengthen the reliability of Washington's electric grid against wildfires, extreme weather and other disruptions.
Participating utilities will match the funding to deploy grid-hardening technologies that reduce the number, frequency and duration of power outages. Projects prioritize upgrades to existing infrastructure and deliver benefits to historically disadvantaged communities.
"Cowlitz PUD is pleased to receive Grid Resilience funding to help keep the lights on for the rural senior citizen community of Ryderwood and reduce wildfire risk in this remote, forested area of Cowlitz County," said Cowlitz PUD General Manager Gary Huhta. "Extreme weather and high wind events have repeatedly disrupted electric service to vulnerable Ryderwood residents, resulting in extended outages when access to reliable power is needed most. Commerce's grant award will allow us to virtually eliminate these impactful outages and mitigate the risk of wildfire ignition by relocating and undergrounding five miles of the power line serving Ryderwood and nearby rural residents in Cowlitz and Lewis Counties."
Funding for these projects comes from the U.S. Department of Energy's Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grants Program, State Building Construction Account and from Washington's Climate Commitment Act (CCA). The CCA reinvests cap-and-invest dollars that reduce climate pollution, create jobs, and improve public health. Information about the CCA is available at www.climate.wa.gov.
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Original text here: https://www.commerce.wa.gov/commerce-awards-more-than-60-million-for-clean-energy-and-grid-resilience-projects-statewide/
