May 17, 2024

Washington Public Ports Association presents 2024 Creative Partnership Award to Port of Camas-Washougal

STEVENSON, Washington – Every year, the Washington Public Ports Association (WPPA) recognizes ports across the state for their extraordinary accomplishments in the categories of job creation, community engagement, creative partnership, and environmental stewardship.

This year, the WPPA is proud to recognize the Port of Camas-Washougal with the Creative Partnership Award for their collaboration with Clark Public Utilities (CPU). As the port considered avenues to support energy sustainability, CPU’s experience with community solar projects meant they were the perfect partner to answer public demand for solar energy, reducing the port’s carbon footprint and providing green energy to other public partners and households throughout Clark County.

The port developed a decarbonization guidebook in 2021 and identified 350,000 square feet of rooftops at its facilities as ideal locations for solar energy arrays. Port staff reached out to CPU because of the utility’s previous success with community solar projects in 2015.

Drawing on its strong and long-standing community relationships, the port collaborated with CPU to engage and share information with public sector partners, local community groups, and individual community members. The cities of Camas, Ridgefield, Vancouver, and Washougal purchased solar units, as did the Camas and Washougal school districts. The Camas Washougal Rotary Club also purchased solar units to help offset energy costs for Treasure House, a local program that provides food and assistance to community members in need.

The partners kicked off construction on the Community Solar East project in 2023 and celebrated completion with a ribbon cutting ceremony on March 27, 2024. The system provides 799kW of sustainable solar power to the community, cutting its carbon footprint and taking advantage of previously unused roof space to provide public agencies and other community partners with clean energy.

The port and CPU’s collaboration is an outstanding example of a creative partnership in which both organizations leveraged their respective expertise and relationships to envision, fund and complete a project with substantial economic, environmental and community benefits.

The WPPA is pleased to present the 2024 Community Partnership Award to the Port of Camas-Washougal, whose stellar work serves as a prime example of creative partnership for the port industry and across public agencies in general.



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As a state legislative and regulatory advocacy organization, the Washington Public Ports Association (WPPA) fosters public policy for ports to achieve their goals. The WPPA was formed by the Legislature in 1961 to represent public port districts throughout Washington, serving as the focus through which ports work cooperatively to develop policy direction, share information, and address issues on economic development, trade, transportation, and environmental stewardship. Public port districts offer a wide range of locally governed services, including marine terminals, barge facilities, industrial development, marinas, airports, railroads, and tourism promotion. Learn more at washingtonports.org. 

CONTACT

Eric ffitch

Washington Public Ports Association

E: effitch@washingtonports.org

T: 360-763-1179