Low-carbon energy project siting improvement study

The Washington state departments of Ecology and Commerce issued the final Low-Carbon Energy Project Siting Improvement Legislative Report in November 2022. It identifies 73 potential legislative, agency, and policy recommendations that could be implemented singly or in groups.

Clean energy projects and facilities would contribute to achieving the state’s greenhouse gas emissions limits. The recommendations in this report would improve siting and permitting processes, while protecting Tribal rights and resources and maintaining standards for the protection of the environment and local communities. These recommendations are a further step in ongoing discussions, and additional work will be needed, with broader sets of stakeholders and Tribes to further refine and implement them.

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The legislative intent of the study is to "provide increased clarity on areas in the state that may be suitable for siting projects that have a lower potential for negative environmental impacts, especially to highly impacted communities as defined in RCW 19.405.020 and identify strategies for minimizing and mitigating negative environmental impacts where possible."

In December 2021, we submitted an interim legislative report about the approach for the study and the people involved. It includes issues to be considered and built upon in the siting study and an overview of siting work in Washington. We also published a report with an overview of state siting efforts and agencies to provide further information.

Focus of the study

The study identified systemic issues related to:

Siting industrial clean-energy projects
Environmental review and permitting processes
Tribal treaty rights and cultural resources processes
Consideration of highly-impacted and overburdened communities

Tribal consultation and engagement

We consulted and engaged with Tribes through government-to-government consultation, Tribal information sessions, and Tribal forums.

Public engagement

We held public meetings in May, June, and September 2022. At these meetings, we provided information on the study and received comments. View recordings of the:

June 16 meeting
Sept. 13 meeting (to watch the video, use passcode &Esk+y5.)

Translated content

En noviembre de 2022, el Department of Ecology y el Department of Commerce publicaron el informe legislativo final sobre la mejora de la localización de los proyectos energéticos con bajas emisiones de carbono. En él se identifican 73 posibles recomendaciones legislativas, de agencias y políticas que podrían aplicarse por separado o en grupos.

Los proyectos y las instalaciones de energía limpia contribuirían a alcanzar los límites estatales de emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero. Las recomendaciones de este informe mejorarían los procesos de localización y concesión de permisos y, al mismo tiempo, protegerían los derechos y recursos tribales, y mantendrían las normas de protección del medio ambiente y las comunidades locales. Estas recomendaciones son un paso más en los debates en curso, y será necesario seguir trabajando con grupos más amplios de partes interesadas y tribus para mejorarlas y aplicarlas.

En el estudio, se identificaron problemas sistémicos relacionados con lo siguiente:

localización de proyectos industriales de energía limpia
procesos de revisión ambiental y concesión de permisos
derechos de los tratados tribales y procesos de recursos culturales
consideración de comunidades muy afectadas y sobrecargadas

Realizamos reuniones públicas en mayo, junio y septiembre de 2022. En estas reuniones, proporcionamos información sobre el estudio y recibimos comentarios. Vea las grabaciones de la reunión del 16 de junio y de la reunión del 13 de septiembre.

We offer free language services about our programs and services for people whose primary language is not English. We can provide written information in your preferred language and interpreters in person or over the telephone.

Contact our Language Access team: civilrights@ecy.wa.gov

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Low-carbon energy project siting improvement study

I want to...

Focus of the study

Tribal consultation and engagement

Public engagement

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