Mar. 22--Money awarded to the Northwest Clean Air Agency for environmental projects was part of a settlement filed Jan. 27, 2005, in federal court in Texas.

The settlement required ConocoPhillips to spend more than $525 million companywide on system upgrades with the goal of reducing emissions by 47,000 tons per year from nine refineries in seven states, including its Ferndale refinery.

The company also was required to pay $4.5 million in civil penalties and spend more than $10 million on environmental projects.

The Ferndale refinery also has paid $400,000 directly for three projects:

* A new fire truck for use at the refinery and the surrounding community.

* A woodstove buy-back program. The Opportunity Council and the Housing Authority of Skagit County received money to replace old woodstoves with new, cleaner-burning woodstoves for low-income people.

* An energy efficiency and greenhouse gas project to help cities in Whatcom, Island and Skagit counties identify ways to save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Reach Katie N. Johannes at katie.johannes@bellinghamherald. com or call 756-2805.