CenTrio Seattle Advances Decarbonization with 25 MW Electric Boiler

Posted on October 13th, 2026 | Filed under Press Releases

First phase of project will expand low-carbon steam production, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support district-scale decarbonization in Seattle

SEATTLE, Oct. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — CenTrio today announced it is advancing the engineering design for the installation of a 25-megawatt electric boiler at its Western Avenue plant marking the first phase of the facility’s decarbonization plan. The boiler will provide approximately 85,000 pounds of steam per hour, enabling CenTrio to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while continuing to serve buildings connected to its district energy system.

CenTrio is partnering with Affiliated Engineers (AEI) to complete the engineering design and with Seattle City Light to secure the necessary power for this high-impact electrification project. Following the completion of engineering, permitting, utility coordination and final approvals, construction is planned to begin in 2027, with the new boiler expected to be operational approximately two years after construction begins.

Flexible Operations, Significant Emissions Reductions
The electric boiler will provide operational flexibility to balance emissions reductions with customer affordability. At maximum utilization, emissions could be reduced by more than 60%, or approximately 42,000 tons annually.

“This project is a great example of Climate Commitment Act dollars working to cost-effectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality in the densest place in our state, downtown Seattle,” said Washington State Representative Joe Fitzgibbon. The project is supported by $4 million in grants from the Climate Commitment Act’s Cap-and-Invest Program, administered by the Washington State Department of Commerce.

District-Scale Benefits
Decarbonizing at the district level offers advantages over building-by-building retrofits, including lower capital costs per ton of carbon dioxide abated, less burden on the electric utility to support network capacity expansion, and opportunities for large-scale thermal energy storage that can reduce peak demand and provide demand-response capability.

“These customers can benefit from low-carbon steam without undertaking major individual retrofit projects, eliminating significant costs and building disruption, while new customer buildings gain access to a low-carbon steam option in the future,” said Ian Goepferd, Vice President and General Manager of CenTrio – Seattle. The CenTrio Seattle steam system currently serves 140 buildings in the greater Seattle area, including three major hospitals.

Building on a History of Innovation and Electrification
The Western Avenue Plant has upgraded its technology and fuel sources throughout its long history to continue providing reliable and economical thermal energy while advancing environmental goals. Electrifying the Seattle steam system represents another significant addition to CenTrio’s sustainable energy portfolio, which already includes the nation’s largest net-zero district cooling system in downtown Chicago and one of the country’s largest sewer heat recovery systems in Denver.

About CenTrio
CenTrio is a leading district energy infrastructure platform providing sustainable heating, cooling, and electricity solutions to cities, campuses, and mission-critical facilities across the United States. With operations in Chicago, Seattle, Denver, New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Houston, Syracuse, Los Angeles, Portland, and Ypsilanti, CenTrio owns and operates essential energy infrastructure that helps residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional customers improve reliability, resiliency, and sustainability while advancing their decarbonization goals.

To learn more, please visit CenTrio at centrioenergy.com.

For more information, please contact:

Stakeholder Contact:
Ian Goepferd
Vice President and General Manager of CenTrio – Seattle
[email protected]

Media Contact:
Lee Keller
[email protected]
(206) 799-3805

CenTrio Seattle Steam Logo