The Washington Clean Energy Partnership celebrated its success in securing an i6 grant at an awards ceremony at the PSRC offices on November 30. The i6 Green Challenge is a multi-agency initiative to drive technology commercialization and entrepreneurship in support of a green innovation economy, increased U.S. competitiveness and new jobs. The Washington Clean Energy Partnership Project grant is for $1.15 million, split among five partners: Prosperity Partnership, Innovate Washington, South Seattle Community College’s Energy Efficiency Technology Training Program, and the Clean Tech Open Mentoring Program. Project activities will include the development of resources for the testing of energy efficiency solutions (BETI), establishment of a public-private partnership focused upon the clean energy industry, and the facilitation of the testing of clean energy products and services to enable their commercialization. The grant project is a result of the Prosperity Partnership’s collaboration with the Brookings Institute’s Metropolitan Business Plan program.

Pictured from left to right are: Robert Weissbourd, Non-resident fellow, Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program; Phil Bussey, President of the Seattle Metro Chamber; Amy Liu, Senior Fellow and Co-Director, Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program; Chris Endresen, Director of Economic Development, PSRC; Bob Drewel, Executive Director, PSRC; Clare Petrich, Port of Tacoma Commissioner, President of the EDD; John Martin, Pacific Northwest Regional Director, Clean Tech Open; Marc Cummings, Director of Public Affairs, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory; Joe Hauth, Director, Puget Sound Industrial Excellence Center Georgetown Campus, South Seattle Community College; Kim Zentz, Executive Director, Innovate Washington Foundation; Steve Johnson, Director, Seattle Office of Economic Development; Leonard Smith, Regional Director, U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration; and Matt Erskine, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Economic Development/COO, U.S. Department of Commerce.