Clean energy coordination

Geothermal energy

Geothermal energy has the potential to support the state’s transition to clean energy. We are leading a collaborative process with other state agencies, Tribes, communities and interested parties to identify opportunities and risks associated with developing power plants using geothermal energy. The process will focus on the three areas identified by the Washington Geological Survey within the state Department of Natural Resources: Mount Baker, Mount St. Helens and the Wind River valley south of Mount St. Helens.

Programmatic environmental impact statements  

In June 2025, we released final programmatic environmental impact statements for utility-scale onshore wind, solar and green hydrogen production and storage facilities. Our broad, statewide environmental studies identify potential significant adverse environmental impacts from these three types of clean energy facilities. They also identify possible ways to avoid, minimize or mitigate those impacts. While the studies do not review any specific projects, they do provide the foundation for environmental reviews of specific clean energy projects proposed to be sited and operated in Washington.

We are currently developing a new programmatic environmental impact statement for sustainable aviation fuel to be released in 2027.

Interagency Clean Energy Coordinating Siting Council  

In partnership with the Department of Commerce, we lead the Interagency Clean Energy Coordinating Siting Council made up of members representing 13 state agencies, offices and councils. The interagency council:

• Identifies actions to improve siting and permitting clean energy projects in Washington
• Tracks efforts to improve project siting and permitting
• Supports interagency coordination
• Makes recommendations to the Legislature in an annual report

Coordinated permitting process

We developed a coordinated state permitting process for eligible clean energy projects—bringing together early discussions, required local and state permits, and environmental reviews under the State Environmental Policy Act into a single process.

The coordinated process puts one agency, Ecology, in charge of managing the overall environmental permitting work for a proposed clean energy project. This helps ensure consistent, information is all in one place while risks and potential impacts are identified early so they can be addressed up front. We will work closely with developers, state and local agencies, Tribes, and communities throughout the process.