Wautoma Solar land use hearing

Recording:

State of Washington
Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council

Wautoma Solar Project
EFSEC Docket No. EF-220355

NOTICE OF INFORMATIONAL PUBLIC MEETING
AND LANDUSE CONSISTENCY HEARING
August 8, 2022
5 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) for a 470-megawatt (MW) solar photovoltaic (PV) generation facility with battery storage 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.

State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) Lead Agency: EFSEC

SEPA Threshold Determination Required: A threshold determination is required to determine whether an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is required. The threshold determination will be made based on the probable project impacts identified in the information presented in the ASC. A threshold determination of non-significance (DNS) may be issued if the SEPA responsible official (EFSEC Director) determines there will be no probable significant adverse environmental impacts. An EIS is not required if a DNS is issued.

Meeting Location: The Public Information Meeting and Land Use Consistency Hearing will be held partially in person AND virtually via Microsoft Teams.

You may attend the meeting in person at:

• The Columbia Basin College
  Gjerde Center Building
  2600 N 20th Ave,
  Pasco, WA 99301

Additional information about the venue such as maps and directions can be found on our website: https://www.efsec.wa.gov/energy-facilities/wautoma-solar-project

You may attend the meeting via Microsoft Teams online or via phone at:

• Microsoft Teams meeting link is available on our website at: https://www.efsec.wa.gov/energy-facilities/wautoma-solar-project
• Phone number +1 253-372-2181 Conference ID: 800055371#

To facilitate these remote meetings, EFSEC would like to invite speakers to sign up ahead of the meeting. Anyone wishing to speak during the Public Information Meeting or the Land Use Hearing, please notify EFSEC by phone at (360) 664-1345 or email at efsec@efsec.wa.gov before 5:00 pm on August 8, 2022.

Please review EFSEC’s public meeting rules on our website: https://www.efsec.wa.gov/about-efsec/public-meeting-ground-rules

Public Comment: Public Comment will be accepted during the Public Information Meeting and Land Use Consistency Hearing. If you are unable to attend the meeting, please send your comment in writing to efsec@efsec.wa.gov or at the EFSEC office mailing address below.

Open house: August 8, 2022 5pm – 5:30pm: The Applicant and EFSEC staff will be available to answer questions about the Project and the EFSEC review process.

Informational Public Meeting: August 8, 2022, 5:30 – 6:30 PM or last speaker: As required by RCW 80.50.090 (1) and WAC 463-26-025 EFSEC will hold a Public Informational Meeting. At this meeting, EFSEC Staff and the Applicant will introduce themselves and the Counsel for the Environment, an Assistant Attorney General appointed by the Washington Attorney General, will be introduced and will explain the duties of this position. The Applicant and EFSEC staff will then make presentations. Following the presentations, the public will be invited to provide comments.

Land Use Consistency Hearing: August 8, 2022, 6:30 – 8:00 PM or last speaker, whichever comes first: As required by RCW 80.50.090 (2) and WAC 463-26-035 at approximately 6:30 PM, EFSEC will hold a Land Use Hearing. During this hearing, the public will be given an opportunity to provide testimony regarding the proposed Project’s consistency and compliance with land use plans and zoning ordinances.

Note: The Land Use Consistency Hearing will begin no later than 30 minutes after the conclusion of the Informational Public Meeting, which may end before or after 6:30 PM.

For information regarding the Project please contact Amí Hafkemeyer, EFSEC Director of Siting and Compliance at (360) 664-1305. 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.

NOTE: This is the last notice you will receive automatically. If you wish to continue receiving notices for this project, please visit our website and sign up for the Wautoma mailing list: https://www.efsec.wa.gov/about-efsec/mailing-lists

Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council
Sonia Bumpus, EFSEC Director
621 Woodland Square Loop P.O. Box 43172,
Olympia, WA, 98504-3172