Official websites use .gov A
.gov website belongs to an official government
organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A
lock (
) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to
the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official,
secure websites.
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.
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 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.
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.
Priority Habitats and Species (PHS) on the Web
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife interactive map for citizens, landowners, cities and counties, Tribal governments, other agencies, developers, conservation groups, and interested parties to find basic information about the known location of PHS in Washington.
Applicability: All clean energy PEISs—projects east of the Cascades only
Geologic Information Portal
The Washington Department of Natural Resources’ Geologic Information Portal provides complex geologic and hazards information.
Web Soil Survey
Operated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Web Soil Survey provides soil data and information. Users can select an area of interest and find details on soil types and their suitability for different uses.
Applicability: All clean energy PEISs
Active Surface Mine Permit Sites Map
Interactive map from the Washington Department of Natural Resources shows the approximate location of mines with active surface mining reclamation permits by commodity type.
Applicability: All clean energy programmatic environmental impact statements
Washington Large Fires
The state Department of Natural Resources maintains the Washington Large Fires dataset, representing large fires typically over 100 acres, but smaller perimeters have been included when data are available. The purpose of the data is to provide consistent spatial data for management, planning or analysis involving fire history.
Wildland Urban Interface (WUI)
U.S. Forest Service map showing the area where houses meet or intermingle with undeveloped wildland vegetation. This makes the WUI a focal area for human-environment conflicts such as wildfires.
Applicability: All clean energy PEISs
Environmental Health Disparities Map
Washington Department of Health’s interactive map compares communities using census tracts to identify disparities. Using the map can help determine where more attention needs to be placed to address and reduce specific pollution, societal, and health harms.
Applicability: All clean energy PEISs
Overburdened Communities of Washington State
Washington state information identifying census tracts where vulnerable populations face cumulative environmental and health impacts.
Agricultural Land Use
Washington Department of Agriculture’s geodatabase identifies agriculture land use in the state.
Applicability: All clean energy PEISs
Compatible Energy Siting Assessment site consultation prototype map tool
Joint federal and state mapping tool designed to promote early and ongoing communication between renewable-energy developers and governmental entities (civilian, military, and Tribal) in support of successful site-selection for new facilities.
Applicability: All clean energy PEISs
Least Conflict Solar Siting Farmland Value Map
Washington State University’s Least Conflict Solar Siting Farmland Value Map depicts relative farmland value for the Columbia Plateau region of eastern Washington.
Applicability: All clean energy PEISs
Least Conflict Solar Siting Ranchland Value Map
Washington State University’s Least Conflict Solar Siting Farmland Value Map depicts relative ranchland value for the Columbia Plateau region of eastern Washington.
Applicability: All clean energy PEISs
Outdoor Recreation Inventory dashboard
Outdoor recreation inventory for the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Plan. This inventory is used to understand the quantity and distribution of key outdoor recreation opportunities across the state.
Applicability: All clean energy PEISs
Washington State Trails database
This Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office database provides a comprehensive picture of multi-modal trail systems.
There are many kinds of lands in Washington; state, federal, Tribal, military, and private lands all have their own rules and restrictions about where and when hunting may be permitted. This Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife page offers a variety of informational tools to help with understanding the regulations.
Applicability: All clean energy PEISs
Aviation: Non-military airports
Map by the Washington State Department of Transportation shows point locations for all non-military airports in the state.
Applicability: All clean energy PEISs
Tribal maps
Tribal maps shared by the Governor’s Office of Indian Affairs, including maps of Tribal reservations and draft treaty ceded areas and federally recognized Tribes.
Applicability: All clean energy PEISs
Coastal Atlas Map
Ecology’s Coastal Atlas provides geographically linked information about Washington’s marine shorelines.
Applicability: All clean energy PEISs
National Hydrography Dataset
U.S. Geological Survey’s National Hydrography Dataset represents the water drainage network of the United States with features such as rivers, streams, canals, lakes, ponds, coastline, dams, and stream gauges.
Applicability: All clean energy PEISs
Water Quality Atlas
Ecology’s Water Quality Atlas is a web-based map application developed for users to obtain information about water quality in Washington.
Applicability: All clean energy PEISs
Wetlands Mapper
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Wetlands mapper is designed to deliver easy-to-use, map-like views of America’s wetland resources. It integrates digital map data with other resource information to produce current information about the status, extent, characteristics and functions of wetlands, riparian, and deep water habitats.
Applicability: All clean energy PEISs
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.
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.
보다 많은 정보를 얻으려면 담당자(360-407-6600)에게 연락하여 통역을 요청할것.
如果需要更多信息或者翻譯員服務,請致電 360-407-6600。
Để biết thêm thông tin hoặc cần thông dịch viên, xin gọi 360-407-6600.