Programmatic environmental impact statements

On June 30, 2025, we released final programmatic environmental impact statements for three types of clean energy facilities in Washington -- onshore wind, solar and green hydrogen production. Guidance how to use each study is provided in the sections below.

Overview: Programmatic environmental impact statements

The three programmatic environmental impact statements for onshore wind, solar and green hydrogen production facilities are broad environmental studies of these types of clean energy facilities. They identify potential significant adverse environmental impacts and possible ways to avoid, minimize, or mitigate those impacts. The Washington Legislature directed final studies be issued in June 2025. 

The environmental studies do not review any specific projects, but provide a foundation for future project-level environmental reviews. Each new clean energy project will need its own environmental review.

Using the clean energy studies for projects  

  • Project developers can use the studies to identify a suitable project site, design a project, and submit a proposal that has considered potential environmental impacts. They can also be used to develop a mitigation plan designed to reduce potentially significant impacts.  
  • State and local agencies evaluating a specific clean energy project must use the information in the studies during their environmental reviews. 
  • Tribes and the public can use the studies as sources of general information about clean energy projects. 

The flowchart below shows how the programmatic environmental impact statements can be used for the different phases of project development.

Implementation tools

We developed several tools to help use the programmatic environmental impact statements at the project level. 

Project siting and design worksheets 

Project developers and lead agencies can use the project siting and design worksheets to help avoid and minimize impacts and engage with Tribes and communities. These include general measures and recommended siting and design measures.

Project consistency worksheets 

Project developers and lead agencies can use the project consistency worksheets to show how a proposed project is consistent with measures in the programmatic environmental impact statements to avoid, reduce, and mitigate impacts. These can be used with the SEPA checklist.

Three wind turbines across a grassy field

Online mapping resources 

The programmatic environmental impact statements (PEISs) reference numerous online mapping resources that can inform project development. Links to select online mapping resources are compiled below. See the PEISs for additional mapping resources.


SEPA adoption template 

Lead agencies may adopt a PEIS using various methods consistent with the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA). We have prepared a template for one potential method. 

MDNS/Adoption Template 

PEIS trainings 

Training opportunities on tiering to the PEISs for project developers and lead agencies will be shown on this page as available. For general SEPA trainings, refer to our SEPA training page

Accessibility

For more information, please call 360-407-6600 and ask for an interpreter.

Para más información o para solicitar un intérprete, favor de comunicarse al 360-407-6600 o cleanenergy@ecy.wa.gov. 

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