Former WA Coal Mine Will Be 'Proving Grounds' For Zero Emission Trucks

OLYMPIA, WA — A new state grant will help get the ball rolling to transform an old Centralia coal mine into a testing facility for massive zero-emission trucks. The state Department of Commerce announced the $250,000 grant Thursday for the Economic Alliance of Lewis County.

That money will help Seattle-based First Mode build out proving grounds to test mining trucks retrofitted to run off batteries and hybrid hydrogen fuel cells. The company produced the world's first integrated battery and hydrogen fuel cell powerplants for the trucks, which are produced in Seattle.

Commerce officials said the grant will help with First Mode's design and construction plans to build office and workshop space and renovate the former mine leased from TransAlta. The company selected the site to allow the haul trucks to operate in an actual mining environment.

First Mode successfully tested a proof-of-concept hydrogen haul truck last summer in South Africa. As tall as a three-story building, officials said existing mine haul trucks require "enormous" amounts of diesel and produce emissions equal to 700 cars.

“The extensive knowledge and experience of the Centralia community, coupled with Washington state’s leadership on clean energy innovation, are key to the success of First Mode’s work,” said First Mode CEO Julian Soles. “We started with retrofitting a diesel engine with a clean energy powerplant in a single haul truck. We are now scaling our capabilities and deployments to move the mining industry another step closer to decarbonization.”

State and county officials said they are hopeful the project could boost economic development in the region as the company scales up its operation and reaches mass production.

“This project is the beginning of understanding new technology,” said Richard DeBolt, executive director of the Economic Alliance of Lewis County. “It brings Lewis County into the future of the hydrogen valley and will create opportunity clusters for the future.”