Paving the path toward clean energy

[Link] Arlington Microgrid and Clean Energy Center in Snohomish County. Photo courtesy Snohomish Public Utility District. Washington is a national leader in developing clean energy, yet we face historic challenges when it comes to securing our energy future. In partnership with the Washington State Department of Commerce, we co-lead a group of 13 state agencies to identify actions to improve siting and permitting of clean energy projects. The Clean Energy Council just issued a new report with recommendations for the governor and state legislature, developed with input from Tribes, industry, and interested parties. They address concerns such as limitations of the state's electrical grid, planning for emerging technologies, and supporting Tribal clean energy projects and local government planning. State agency actions on clean energy Washington has already taken many strides to reach our clean energy goals. Our electricity needs are expected to double by 2050 with even more needed for large energy users, like data centers, and more action is needed. Agencies are improving customer service and providing information for developers of clean energy projects and the public on existing and new technologies. In the past year, Washington has taken action to move clean energy forward including: Providing funding for agencies, local governments, Tribes, and communities to work on clean energy planning, siting, environmental reviews, and permitting. Finalizing statewide environmental studies for utility-scale solar and onshore wind energy projects and green hydrogen facilities - and providing tools to use them. Studying rural clean energy economics. Launching a collaborative process to identify opportunities and risks of geothermal energy. Improving customer service and ideas for consolidating clean energy permits. Building best practices for community and Tribal benefit agreements and developing an environmental justice toolkit for hydrogen projects. Reporting on the emerging technologies of nuclear fusion and sustainable aviation fuel. Recommended next steps Building on the recommendations in the first annual report, the council developed new ideas that further advance the state's energy policies. Recent changes at the federal level, as well as state and federal funding constraints, will affect clean energy development in Washington state. Given the urgent need for clean energy to meet the rising state electricity demand, the council developed meaningful recommendations. These could be implemented with legislative direction or funding to enact. The electrical grid provides clean energy to users across the state but is reaching its capacity in many places. The recommendations are to establish a state entity to develop and finance transmission projects, develop tools for siting and permitting, and improving existing electrical lines. The council's recommendations include: Supporting clean energy development through incentives for upgrades. Promoting Tribal clean energy projects. Looking at options that do not rely on the electrical grid. Supporting Tribes with long-term funding. Engaging Tribes early in actions that affect their resources. Supporting local governments in clean energy planning and for dealing with emerging. technologies. Public lands available for energy development could be assessed and tools for engaging with local communities would improve information sharing. A collaborative process for looking at risks and opportunities for geothermal energy has started, but more work could be done to gather data for these types of resources. We believe these actions will improve siting and permitting of clean energy in Washington state and help meet our goals for a clean energy transition. Opportunities for input Our goals include promoting understanding, awareness, and visibility into the council's work. We hold workshops with interested parties and Tribes in the spring and fall to provide updates, hear issues and ideas, and share recommendation ideas. In the summer, we shared draft recommendations for comment and input on the annual report. Visit the Clean Energy Council's webpage to learn more about what the council is working on and sign up for the council mailing list to receive updates on future engagement opportunities. For questions about the council, please contact [email protected] or call 360-407-6600. Climate change Climate Commitment Act share: Email Submit feedback