NEWS RELEASE: November 22, 2024
The Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC) has submitted their recommendation of approval for the proposed Wautoma Solar project to Governor Inslee.
The recommendation package includes the site certification agreement (SCA), adjudicative order pertaining to the preemption of local land use ordinances, and the State Environmental Protection Act (SEPA) determination.
The proposed project, located in Benton County, was subject to an adjudicative hearing regarding the question of preemption of land use ordinances consistency including a public comment meeting. Upon completion of adjudication, Council voted unanimously to recommend land use preemption for the project.
As cited in the adjudicative order, the Council finds that the conditions related to land use in the application for site certification (ASC) and SEPA revised mitigated determination of non-significance (MDNS) should be imposed to consider the purposes of Benton County’s preempted land use plans and zoning ordinances at this site.
In accordance with Washington Administrative Code (WAC) 463-30-335, parties may petition for reconsideration of the Council’s recommendation package to the governor. The Council requires requests for reconsideration to address all of the filing party’s concerns raised by the recommendation package in a single petition. Petitions for reconsideration must be filed within 20 days of the service of the recommendation package to the governor. If any such petition for reconsideration is timely filed, the deadline for answers is fourteen days after the date of service of each such petition.
All documents pertaining to the Wautoma Solar project, including the adjudicative order, SCA, MDNS, public comment records, meeting videos and minutes can be found at https://www.efsec.wa.gov/energy-facilities/wautoma-solar-project