Programmatic EIS

Quick reads  

• Green hydrogen programmatic environmental impact statement summary
• Commenting information handout (English)
• Commenting information handout (Spanish)

Detailed reports 

• Green hydrogen draft programmatic environmental impact statement
• Programmatic environmental impact statement technical appendices 

Attend a virtual public hearing 

There will be a presentation on the draft programmatic environmental impact statement with a question and answer session and time for comments.

• Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025
  Online public hearing at 9 a.m. 
  Zoom - registration required  

• Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025
  Online public hearing at 12:30 p.m. 
  Zoom - registration required  

• Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025
  Online public hearing at 5:30 p.m. 
  Zoom - registration required  

Multiple ways to comment 

Comments should focus on the substance of the draft programmatic environmental impact staetment and be as specific as possible. Comments received during the comment period will be addressed in the final study.

• Using the online form  
• At a virtual public hearing
• By mail
       Clean Energy Coordination
       Department of Ecology
       PO Box 47709
       Olympia, WA 98504-7709

Important to know 

• All comments are valued equally.
• Comments which talk about specific impacts or issues are most useful. Please look at our focus sheet about providing effective public comments.

What is a programmatic environmental impact statement?

Focus sheet – What is a PEIS?

A programmatic environmental impact statement (EIS) is a broad environmental assessment that provides information for future project decisions. The review is done under the State Environmental Policy Act and evaluates impacts at a broad level. Each EIS will look at: 

• Existing conditions 
• Types of facilities
• Potential significant environmental impacts 
• Proposed mitigation to offset any potential impacts 

These environmental reviews are not intended to make any decisions whether a specific project should be built. Rather they provide early information to be considered during planning. Each programmatic environmental impact statement looks statewide at the types of projects that could be built and evaluate potential significant environmental impacts.

Since each programmatic environmental impact statement is not specific to any particular site, the evaluations will be done at a broad level and will assess which areas in the state are suitable for the three types of clean energy projects. The three non-project environmental assessments will evaluate likely impacts on: 

• Natural and built environments  
• Historic and cultural resources 
• Protected and endangered species 
• Habitat connectivity and migration corridors 
• Overburdened communities including environmental justice concerns 
• Tribal rights, interests, and resources 
• Land uses 
• Military installations and operations  

The deadline for completing the three environmental reviews is June 30, 2025.   

Scoping phase

We completed the scoping phase for utility-scale solar energy, onshore wind energy facilities, and green hydrogen facilities. Scoping reports for solar energy, onshore wind energy, and green hydrogen facilities include a summary of comments received during the scoping phase.

Draft programmatic environmental impact statement phase

Draft programmatic environmental impact statements provide thorough, factual, and impartial information about the potential environmental impacts from facilities for the three types of clean energy. The focus is on impacts which may be significant and adverse. The studies also describe how impacts could be avoided or reduced.

We held a public comment period for the draft programmatic environmental impact statements for utility-scale solar and onshore wind energy facilities Sept. 25 through Oct. 28, 2024.

The public comment period for the draft PEIS for green hydrogen energy facilities opened Jan. 7 and closes at 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 6, 2025.

Final programmatic environmental impact statement phase

The final programmatic environmental impact statements will be revised to address comments we received. The documents will include responses to comments. 

Using programmatic environmental impact statements for clean energy proposals 

Under SEPA, each individual clean energy project will need to do its own separate environmental review. During that review process, site-specific information and project-specific effects will be evaluated. 

The information in the programmatic studies is intended to help a developer identify a suitable project site, design a project, and submit a proposal that has considered potential environmental impacts. It can also help a proponent develop a mitigation plan designed to reduce potentially significant impacts. 

State and local agencies reviewing a clean energy project must use the information in the programmatic environmental impact statements as well as other publicly available information and site-specific details to inform their environmental reviews and permitting decisions.

Timelines 

• Jan. 7 to Feb. 6: 30-day public comment period for the draft green hydrogen programmatic environmental impact statements.
• June 30, 2025: All three programmatic environmental reviews finalized and released.

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.