Wautoma Solar adjudication public comment hearing

Recording:

State of Washington
Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council

Wautoma Solar Energy Project
EFSEC Docket No: 220355

NOTICE OF HEARING TO RECEIVE PUBLIC COMMENTS
DURING THE ADJUDICATIVE PROCEEDINGS
October 3, 2024
5:00 PM

Description of Proposal: On June 9, 2022, the Washington State Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC) received an Application for Site Certification (ASC) from Innergex

Renewable Development, LLC (Applicant), to construct and operate a 470-megawatt (MW) solar photovoltaic (PV) generation facility coupled with a 4-hour, 470-MW battery energy storage system as well as related interconnection and ancillary support infrastructure located in unincorporated Benton County, Washington. The ASC and other materials are posted on the EFSEC website: https://www.efsec.wa.gov/energy-facilities/wautoma-solar-project.

Proponent: Innergex Renewable Development, LLC, 3636 Nobel Drive, Suite 260, San Diego, CA 92122.

Adjudicative Hearings: Council review of the application for site certification (ASC) is governed by Chapter 80.50 of the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) and Title 463 of the Washington Administrative Code (WAC). The Council will conduct a virtual public hearing on the proposed Wautoma Solar Energy Project under the Washington Administrative Procedure Act, Chapter 34.05 RCW, and the Council’s rules for adjudicative proceedings as set out in WAC Chapter 463-30. The hearing is open to the public, but public comment will not be taken at this time.

The purpose of the adjudicative proceeding is to determine if the Council should recommend to the Governor preemption of the local jurisdiction's land use provisions (WAC 463-38-060(3)) and if so, what conditions should be included in the draft site certification agreement which consider state or local governmental or community interests affected by the project (WAC 463-28-070). The Adjudicative Hearings will begin September 25, 2024.

Public Comment Hearing: RCW 80.50.090(4)(a) provides that, at the adjudicative hearing “any person shall be entitled to be heard in support of or in opposition to the application for certification by raising one or more specific issues, provided that the person has raised the issue or issues in writing with specificity during the application review process or during the public comment period… prior to the start of the adjudicative hearing.”

As part of the adjudicative proceedings, the public is invited to provide comments on October 3, 2024, beginning at 5:00 pm until 6:00 pm or until the last speaker, whichever occurs first. Members of the public who file a written comment with the Council prior to the close of business on October 2, 2024, raising one or more specific issues may speak in support or opposition to the proposed Wautoma Solar Energy Project. In accordance with RWC 80.50.090(4)(b), the Council has elected to limit the topic of this adjudicative proceeding to the preemption of Benton County's land use provisions and any applicable conditions as described above.

Anyone wishing to speak during the hearing should please submit comments to the comment database at https://comments.efsec.wa.gov/ or send comment in writing to comments@efsec.wa.gov or P.O. Box 43172, Olympia, WA 98504-3172 before 5:00 pm on Tuesday, September 24, 2024.

Meeting Location: The meeting will be held virtually. We appreciate your participation.

            • Teams: https://bit.ly/WautomaCmtMtg

            • Dial in: +1 564-999-2000 Conference ID: 984 011 360#

Additional Information: For information regarding the project please visit the EFSEC website at https://www.efsec.wa.gov/energy-facilities/wautoma-solar-project or contact Lance Caputo, EFSEC Site Specialist, at (360)-664-1345 or lance.caputo@efsec.wa.gov. If you have special accommodation needs or need language translation services to provide your comment, please contact EFSEC staff at (360)-664-1345 or send an email to efsec@efsec.wa.gov.

Actions Taken to Date on this Project:

• An Application for Site Certification was submitted on June 9, 2022.
• Public Informational Meeting and Land Use Consistency Hearing held August 8, 2022.
• Order #886 on Land Use Consistency issued November 15, 2022.
• SEPA Determination of a Mitigated Determination of Nonsignificance (MDNS) was made May 20, 2024.