The Small Business EV Launchpad is Taking Off!
On November 13, our partners at Breaking Barriers Collaborative kicked off the first-ever cohort of the Small Business EV Launchpad! The Launchpad is a cohort-based training program that simplifies the transition to electric vehicles for small businesses in Washington state. The program is customized to meet the unique needs of small businesses with 10 vehicles or fewer, with an emphasis on serving BIPOC-owned businesses.
The kickoff event featured a Ride and Drive powered by our friends at Range Zero Emissions, where small businesses could test out different kinds of zero-emissions vehicles that may work best for their operations.
“The Small Business EV Launchpad works with folks who are directly impacted by climate change and who directly support their communities every day. We’re proud to help create this highly collaborative space where program participants work with each other to advance shared benefits for their small businesses, their customers, and the community at large,” said Emily Pinckney, Program Manager, Breaking Barriers Collaborative.
Here’s why this matters: Transitioning to an electric fleet has significant economic benefits for a business, but it can require meaningful capital, infrastructure, and know-how to make the transition successful. Small businesses are often under-resourced compared to their larger counterparts, and can be left out of the EV fleet transition.
The Small Business EV Launchpad is about taking businesses all the way to the finish line. Starting today, small businesses in the cohort can plug into up to six months of free 1:1 consulting support to successfully secure EVs and/or charging equipment — including support for completing grant applications and ultimately getting EVs to their business.
Spotlight on Dairy Digesters
Thank you to our partners at the Washington State Dairy Federation for organizing a tour of the Werkhoven Dairy and the Qualco Digester in Monroe! Dairy digesters capture methane from manure and other organic waste – reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving wastewater management, and producing renewable energy.
Dairy digesters are climate-smart technologies that lower greenhouse gas emissions, generate renewable energy, and create compost for soil health. They also provide economic and environmental benefits for dairy farmers and their communities.
We can now expand projects like this across the state thanks to a $12.8 million Climate Commitment Act-funded grant program! The grants, administered by the Washington State Department of Commerce, will fund projects to repair, upgrade, or build new digesters across the state.
Read more about the grant program here.
Voters Know Renewables Are the Most Affordable Form of Energy
A new survey from Data for Progress shows that voters correctly identify renewables as the most affordable form of energy when stacked up against fossil fuels like oil and coal.
Renewable energy sources like solar and wind are not only more affordable than their fossil fuel counterparts, they are critical to growing our economy and creating jobs while cleaning the air and mitigating the effects of climate change.
Visit Our New Website and Follow Us
In case you missed it: Last week, Clean & Prosperous launched a single, streamlined, accessible website: www.cleanandprosperous.org. You can now find everything you need from the Clean & Prosperous team in one place!
Follow Clean & Prosperous on social media to learn about our work to accelerate clean energy and power prosperity for communities across Washington. You can find us on these channels:
- LinkedIn: @clean-and-prosperous
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