Funding to Clark County cities, nonprofits, public utilities, ports, school districts and others through the Climate Commitment Act has grown to nearly $80 million since Washington awarded the first grants in May 2024.

The money supports dozens of clean energy, air and water projects undertaken by county government, cities, school districts, ports, Clark College, Clark Public Utilities, PeaceHealth, Clark Conservation District, Fourth Plain Forward and others.

Passed in 2021, the Climate Commitment Act set a limit, or cap, on overall carbon emissions. Businesses have to purchase allowances equal to their emissions at quarterly cap-and-trade auctions held by the state Department of Ecology. As of mid-2025, the pay-to-pollute program has generated about $3.2 billion in revenue for the st

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