Application submittal and review
Summary
TUUSSO Energy, LLC (TUUSSO) filed an application for site certification (ASC) to develop, construct, and operate the Columbia Solar projects spanning five separate solar array sites on October 16, 2017. TUUSSO submitted an updated application on January 26, 2018.
Governor Inslee signed and executed the original site certification agreement (SCA) on October 17, 2018, based on a Council recommendation for approval of the project dated August 22, 2018.
On July 28, 2021, TUUSSO filed a request to transfer the SCAs for the three operational sites of the project to Greenbacker Renewable Energy (GREC), a subsidiary of TUUSSO. Our Council approved the request via Council Order No. 880 on September 21, 2021.
On February 24, 2026, GREC notified us of the sale of the Columbia Solar sites to Altus Power, LLC and requested a transfer of control of the SCAs. On July 15, 2026, our Council unanimously approved Council Order No. 363, approving the transfer of control and authorizing technical amendments to the SCAs.
Description
On October 16, 2017, we received an application for site certification from TUSSSO Energy, LLC (TUUSSO) to develop, construct, and operate the Columbia Solar projects spanning five solar array sites. We convened an informational public meeting at the Kittitas Valley Event Center Armory on December 12, 2017.
TUUSSO submitted an updated application on January 26, 2018. On February 12, 2018, TUUSSO requested to extend our Council's timeline until April 2018 to determine if the project qualified for expedited permitting. On April 17, 2018, our Council granted TUUSSO's request for expedited processing.
On August 22, 2018, we sent a report to Governor Inslee recommending approval of the original site certification agreement (SCA). On October 17, 2018, Governor Inslee signed and executed the SCA.
On July 28, 2021, TUUSSO filed a request to transfer control of the project SCAs to Greenbacker Renewable Energy (GREC), a subsidiary of TUUSSO. Our Council issued Order No. 880 on September 21, 2021, approving the termination of the Typha and Fumaria SCAs and the transfer of the Penstemon, Camas, and Urtica SCAs to GREC.
On December 17, 2025, GREC sold the Columbia Solar sites to Altus Power, LLC, notifying us of the sale and requesting a transfer of control and amendment of the project SCAs on February 24, 2026.
We held a virtual informational meeting regarding the ownership change on June 17, 2026.
On July 15, 2026, our Council unanimously approved Council Order No. 363, approving the transfer of control and authorizing technical amendments to the SCAs.