Help shape future onshore wind and solar energy projects

To reduce the amount of climate-changing greenhouse gases emitted in Washington, energy producers are working to shift from electricity generated by fossil fuel-based energy facilities to facilities using clean energy sources such as the sun and wind.

To support the state's transition to green energy, we prepared two draft programmatic environmental impact statements that look broadly at different types of utility-scale solar and onshore wind energy facilities to identify probable environmental impacts and ways to avoid or reduce them.

Our draft report evaluating solar energy facilities and draft report examining onshore wind energy facilities provide consistent and useful information for developers, local and state regulators, Tribes and the public to consider during the early planning stages for a proposed project. The documents are designed to help make informed decisions about where and how these types of energy facilities could be sited and operated in Washington.

Both draft programmatic environmental impact statements provide information at three different levels of detail:

• A quick overview of our findings (summaries)
• Potential environmental impacts and mitigation actions (report contents)
• Detailed, technical evaluations about impacted resources (appendices)

Since the impacts for both types of facilities are similar, we are releasing them jointly. This means a comment on one document will automatically be considered for the other.

Taking public comments

The two draft reports are open for public review and comment until Monday, Oct. 28, at 11:59 p.m. Written comments can be submitted using our joint online public comment form or sent by mail to:

Clean Energy Coordination
Department of Ecology
P.O. Box 47709
Olympia, Wash. 98504-7709

We also will hold three public hearings in October:

• Tuesday, Oct. 15, at Ecology's Central Region Office, 1250 W. Alder St., Union Gap. We will hold an open house from 4 to 5 p.m. with the public hearing starting at 5 p.m.
• Wednesday, Oct. 16, at the Red Lion Hotel and Conference Center, 2525 N. 20th Ave., Pasco. We will conduct an open house from 1 to 2 p.m. The hearing starts at 2 p.m.
• Tuesday, Oct. 22, virtually. The online hearing will start at 10 a.m. Registration through Zoom is required.

All public comments will be valued equally. We will review and consider the comments we receive -and may revise our programmatic environmental impact statements as a result. Those making public comments only need to make them once. A comment provided on one study will automatically be considered for the other. Those addressing specific impacts or issues are the most useful. We have prepared a fact sheet about providing effective public comments.

Reviews help with early planning and project design

Both draft programmatic environmental impact statements are not specific to any single solar or wind energy facility. Individual energy projects will still need to do a separate environmental review.

Instead, the broad-level studies evaluate the likely impacts on natural and built resources at a statewide level. While some resources are unlikely to be adversely impacted, the environmental reviews found other resources have the potential to be significantly affected. There may be mitigation options that can reduce or eliminate those impacts, but the approaches will depend on the specific project and site.

Environmental impact statements to be completed by June 2025

Once we receive comments, we will work to complete the two programmatic environmental impact statements which are due to the Washington Legislature by June 30, 2025. Our final reports will also be made available to the public.

For questions about the draft environmental evaluations or the public review and comment process, please email [email protected] or call 360-407-6600.

Para más información o para solicitar un intérprete, favor de comunicarse al [email protected] o 360-407-6600.

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