[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6358094,"mediaKeyId","2212825-e5cb9498033503430f326c8eebbfc9ad","parentId",2212825,"title","Commerce seeks new Clean Energy Development Office to speed siting, dashboard and battery storage guidance","audioSeconds",1266,"startMs",4898000,"endMs",6164000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2212825-e5cb9498033503430f326c8eebbfc9ad&start=4898&end=6164","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2212825-e5cb9498033503430f326c8eebbfc9ad/thumbnail_4898000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6358094/Washington/Commerce-seeks-new-Clean-Energy-Development-Office-to-speed-siting-dashboard-and-battery-storage-guidance","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6358094-bb423a2f7199b8d089a3b712485c1153/orig.mp4?Expires=1771144232&Signature=EaZbo~JDAmgvL3hO7ji9kClk86f-I9AxGz-Q-BXD97JSfQKH0Zt4cN-fPutEBSy~uK9yL5XHdzJXfPRrdBsv74FfuRC9OCcadbOCkBQjDFdwwupSoVlDyXKrxBbRYhSGaw3GcEO1BRzdkRqoxFEf0EWQk-jp~xF8AKNJDGQMLTM3xVZxAScg4Iout5-fWZ~BVtM3yvY8OAwmOgL9sIw1tGv191MP353BSuiVLf2HvvuK9Te8vpRH0YjN~yIYs7bW8q~KfjfbTCrL1zid6RAOWsoiYpPBFtXWwPCQCECLVNRwHfcNwxfjKBGbHQqxqFKvFn9FXYo7aAuQvGFQEe~wrg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Senate Environment, Energy & Technology ","date","2025-01-31T00:00:00Z","article","The committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 5359, an agency‑request bill that would establish a Clean Energy Development Office at the Department of Commerce to centralize tools, technical assistance, mapping and siting best practices for renewable energy, transmission and battery energy storage.

What the bill would do

Committee staff said SB 5359 responds to recommendations from a 2023 Commerce evaluation. The proposed office would develop publicly available geospatial and visualization tools, a permitting dashboard, templates for community benefit agreements and model ordinances, technical assistance for local governments and tribes, and a work group to produce best practices and a menu of options for siting large‑scale battery energy storage systems.

Why proponents support it

Commerce staff (Rebecca Poncio and Dan Seaman) framed the bill as a collaboration tool to reduce conflicts early, provide transparency, help communities understand projects and provide a single point for technical resources. Supporters including Audubon Washington, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, The Nature Conservancy, Renewable Northwest and Climate Solutions said the bill would help identify lower‑conflict sites, improve tribal consultation and encourage workforce and community benefits.

Key testimony and concerns

•Environmental and resource authorities recommended that the office help map sensitive habitats and preserve biodiversity while directing development away from conflict areas; Audubon urged study of a ‘‘build‑ready’’ model that pre‑screens derisked sites for developers.

•Fish and Wildlife supported Commerce’s authority to deliver mapping and best practices and to help local governments integrate clean energy into planning and zoning.

•Industry and business groups cautioned against creating additional layers of approval or duplicating work of other agencies or regional planning efforts; they urged a reductive approach to avoid adding new process delays.

•Several witnesses asked for clarity about the dashboard’s scope, definitions (for example, \"non‑wire alternatives\"), and whether the office would have regulatory authority (it would not).

Battery storage work group

SB 5359 creates a work group to develop guidance, templates and model ordinances for siting large battery energy storage systems and addresses safety, emergency response, zoning, permitting and mitigation considerations.

Ending

Supporters said the office would not add regulatory hurdles but would provide a centralized resource to reduce conflict and speed project readiness. The committee closed the hearing after testimony from state agencies, conservation groups, labor, utilities and industry. No committee vote on SB 5359 was taken at the hearing.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Environment, Energy & Technology - 1/31/2025 10:30 AM","oneSentenceSummary","The committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 5359, an agency‑request bill that would establish a Clean Energy Development Office at the Department of Commerce to centralize tools, technical assistance, mapping and siting best practices for renewable energy, transmission and battery energy storage.","taxTitle","Environment, Energy & Technology, Senate, Legislative Sessions, Washington","taxId",20502,"location","Washington","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6358106,"Bonneville officials brief Senate committee on transmission capacity, queue growth and grid-enhancing technologies",934,272000,1206000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2212825-e5cb9498033503430f326c8eebbfc9ad&start=272&end=1206","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2212825-e5cb9498033503430f326c8eebbfc9ad/thumbnail_272000.jpg","/articles/6358106/Washington/Bonneville-officials-brief-Senate-committee-on-transmission-capacity-queue-growth-and-grid-enhancing-technologies","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6358106-20b9755587f7906d9a31a381ad80d0ad/orig.mp4?Expires=1771144232&Signature=AM~81eY9eO6qZ9I550RB1m93eOpRKmOC3asNpvtHkSHWJL1nTh9xiKTCkIwIvbZTwofqMx32clT3SsFuwJ7vIk1CWfj5OycQw0o4chAz8wzx1RlkK6GODCJgPqE68~XLuYjFh8wVt5KN69vJNQX09e6inIuGfS1SIzUJWoabWnYbfx334lL0fFsB1tP~5ZfV15qCIY9QszDYIlMjnAfMNq~DUkMJkIkIboS0uE4U3YfiW6i56iP55ytsgg7uSYGUHdtSszb1WtK7I~hbOqiEuUlWpcuIr5UpTLv7bmKj~zeDZQGwrV0EiOVRMdxoY4IvDZvn2xXkQgw7HrcwY9r6WQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Bonneville Power Administration officials told the Senate Environment, Energy & Technology Committee that transmission demand across the Pacific Northwest is rising rapidly and that the agency is accelerating projects and pilots to increase capacity and efficiency.

Melissa Skelton, a Bonneville Power Administration official, opened the committee work session by describing Bonneville as a federal power-marketing administration within the U.S. Department of Energy that moves and sells power produced at federal hydroelectric sites and other generators. \"We do recover all of our costs from selling power and transmission,\" Skelton said.

Why it matters: Committee members heard that Washington’s ability to deploy renewable generators, serve growing industrial and data‑center loads, and keep the grid reliable depends on major transmission work — both new lines and upgrades to existing corridors. Bonneville officials warned the committee that interconnection and transmission service requests have grown sharply and that the utility must scale capital delivery to meet customer needs.

Bonneville details and capacity drivers

Kevlyn Baker, manager of the customer service engineering organization at BPA, described how BPA plans and studies the transmission system. \"BPA's transmission plan is produced yearly...the planning process is conducted in an open, coordinated and transparent manner,\" she said, adding that planning uses comprehensive system modeling and a 10‑year planning horizon.

Skelton told the committee that Bonneville owns and operates more than 15,000 miles of transmission lines and sells roughly 80% hydroelectric power into the region. She said Bonneville accounts for about 28% of power in the Pacific Northwest and about 50% of power in Washington state.

Interconnection and queue reform

Baker said BPA operates three separate queues — generation interconnection, transmission service requests and line/load interconnection — and reported exponential growth in interconnection volume since 2017. She noted a specific procedural change: on Jan. 26, 2024, BPA moved from a serial first‑in, first‑out large‑generation queue to a first‑ready, first‑served cluster process. \"Over 200 requests were received for that transition late last year, and that represents almost 100 gigawatts that will be going into our new transition cluster study,\" she said.

The committee asked for clarification about the queue change. Baker explained that \"first in, first out\" prioritized requests by timestamp while \"first ready, first served\" treats cluster applicants equally and advances those that are commercially ready — for example, with site control or power‑purchase agreements.

Evolving Grid and capital needs

Skelton described the Evolving Grid initiative, a multi‑project program that Bonneville has expanded to 23 proposed projects, with a preliminary cost estimate of about $5,000,000,000. She said the work includes proactive main‑grid reinforcements intended to increase capacity and reliability across load centers in the Northwest. The agency reported a recent year in which it deployed $665,000,000 toward capital projects — a rise of $232,000,000 over the prior year — and said it expects to need materially greater capital execution through 2028.

Grid‑enhancing technologies and pilots

Baker explained grid‑enhancing technologies (GETs) and examples Bonneville is piloting: advanced conductors and dynamic line ratings (DLR). Advanced conductors (various aluminum conductor composite or steel‑supported types) can allow reconductoring that increases capacity while staying within existing tower loading constraints. Baker cited John Day powerhouse‑to‑John Day substation reconductoring and a proposal for Big Eddy–Ostrander as examples where advanced conductors were used or proposed.

On dynamic line ratings, Baker said DLR systems update line capacity using monitored weather and conductor conditions rather than static assumptions. \"The DLR can be difficult to use accurately because wind speed can be very variable, and it can also be very localized based on terrain,\" she said.

Committee concerns and follow up

Committee members asked about wildfire risk, coordination with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and possible federal funding changes. Skelton said Bonneville has teams that coordinate with DNR on wildfire issues and that the agency is still assessing the implications of recent federal hiring or funding decisions. \"Bonneville is still examining at this point what the results of these mean,\" she said regarding federal actions.

Members also pressed Bonneville about regional changes as more intermittent solar and wind resources come online. Skelton said interconnection and transmission service requests from renewable projects flow through the same planning and queue processes and offered to provide follow‑up materials with specifics.

Ending

Bonneville officials offered to provide additional slides and follow‑up information to committee members on reconductoring gains, planned Evolving Grid projects in Washington (including Cross Cascade North, Chehalis–Covington and Grand Coulee–Columbia–Schultz segments) and the agency’s wildfire coordination work.

","Bonneville Power Administration officials told the Senate Environment, Energy & Technology Committee that transmission demand across the Pacific Northwest is rising rapidly and that the agency is accelerating projects and pilots to increase capacity and efficiency.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6358089,"Bill to shield local governments that assist FSEC from certain appeals advances to committee hearing",2869,1963000,4832000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2212825-e5cb9498033503430f326c8eebbfc9ad&start=1963&end=4832","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2212825-e5cb9498033503430f326c8eebbfc9ad/thumbnail_1963000.jpg","/articles/6358089/Washington/Bill-to-shield-local-governments-that-assist-FSEC-from-certain-appeals-advances-to-committee-hearing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6358089-53c99fca4a0674072c5254134c4ebc6e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771144232&Signature=CzY5kzP0QcEbx-tlX5Apyi0n3DBPdzB55UWF0rKiePHD7eUdCwBQ-pmfog19cOgMK2UyeJxJI~B4oVd3YLCpjZsvRSbYpcY~~Ak-VDGkW2jjy8Rc1imdmi0ahr3eVoWd7QlygH-Mom9h14RJsZJLelLkHuntBV1DsG7W1tv8pCgP0QBnz7HOHbC1kSgBk1bmukSf-SLrR9BhoC8hXkM~2IV6UkU9mv~tXqXBo3RZlDv7WTZjzFYOoaNGm5MbzbAefDYCm5pbflRcnCG8bBoUPhkfAwr2mbq7aNGF0ZSsj4w~K3WZFBODm2wNCvcSpT-aPrzWLCEVdfCocLJkjpsY4A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senators held a brief public hearing on Senate Bill 5317, which would clarify that local governments that enter into agreements with the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (FSEC) to provide technical assistance, review or inspection services for certified energy facilities are considered to be in compliance with state and local laws, and that such local participation would not be subject to appeals under the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) or the Land Use Petition Act.

What staff said

Kim Cushing, committee staff, described FSEC as the state body that coordinates siting and certification of major energy facilities and said the bill \"specifies that a city or county is in compliance with state and local laws when entering into an agreement with FSEC to provide technical assistance, review an application or a plan, or inspect the siding construction or operation of any proposed or certified energy facility.\" She noted a fiscal note showing no fiscal impact.

Public testimony

Paul Jewell, representing the Washington State Association of Counties, testified in support and said counties sometimes decline to enter collaborative agreements with FSEC because legal counsel had advised them to avoid potential appeals or damages claims when project approvals are inconsistent with local codes. Jewell said the bill addresses that concern and had been worked out with FSEC.

Committee action

Senator Gaynor (the prime sponsor for this item) provided brief remarks and said the bill simply ensures local governments can collaborate with FSEC without increased legal risk. The public hearing was brief; the committee did not take a vote during the session.

Ending

Committee staff closed public testimony and said the item would return for further consideration; no formal committee vote occurred during the hearing.","Senators held a brief public hearing on Senate Bill 5317, which would deem cities and counties in compliance when they enter agreements to provide technical assistance or inspections for projects under the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council, and would exempt those local actions from SEPA and Land Use Petition Act appeals.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6358101,"Committee weighs bill to create Washington Electric Transmission Office as stakeholders debate scope and eminent‑domain powers",2564,2163000,4727000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2212825-e5cb9498033503430f326c8eebbfc9ad&start=2163&end=4727","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2212825-e5cb9498033503430f326c8eebbfc9ad/thumbnail_2163000.jpg","/articles/6358101/Washington/Committee-weighs-bill-to-create-Washington-Electric-Transmission-Office-as-stakeholders-debate-scope-and-eminentdomain-powers","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6358101-05cf6bbda7118e8df3033e08ca125a7c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771144232&Signature=Mi4M7889zhLcmQsFVobHHv8wLkh4kXmalSw87QmfQciafiO4Lv8coY-~PmpOGvQM5qzLQfOTU74a~kUL~c5B013ONQ88tO5VFRLJKdpvP04sxa-nywg~AGzb3R4KcikL~Rw9WmyYMHXKtsvucAVq6qASkA7uELAzP1N4ItSzY7dcmfgK9DEywvov2j~dGvSW-FUlfMuXRBC~wj8gaSuyGP0ZTNKLb6wtiXLmPrqIeguZAFX2J1wVk8eX5atNU5BRZVI3b1aPjBiXZ-Suiqi17VsUDnuwzHfdn7o1KQrwlxEThLsDvg-4yaBlUqIs19WUcuVsDslcjvYCfq0Ehn3ngA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senators received a detailed briefing and lengthy public testimony on Senate Bill 5466, a proposal to establish a Washington Electric Transmission Office within the Department of Commerce and to authorize a range of activities intended to expand transmission capacity and speed upgrades.

The bill and why it matters: Staff described SB 5466 as a statewide effort to assess 20‑year transmission needs, identify priority corridors, support non‑wire alternatives, coordinate upgrades and provide permitting and technical support to local and tribal governments. Supporters say Washington needs a statewide authority to address interconnection backlogs and transmission constraints that otherwise limit clean‑energy deployment and industrial growth.

Key bill provisions summarized by staff

Kim Cushing, committee staff, briefed the bill. She said it would establish an Electric Transmission Office in Commerce, create a seven‑member Electric Transmission Advisory Board, require a 20‑year transmission needs assessment (first due June 30, 2026) and a transmission system enhancement roadmap, and authorize a broad range of powers including rulemaking, contracts, partnerships, property acquisition and — subject to statutory limits — exercising eminent domain to secure rights of way. The bill would create operating and capital accounts, allow categorical SEPA exemptions for certain reconductoring within existing rights of way, and authorize limited rate‑of‑return incentives for investor‑owned utilities that deploy reconductoring for the benefit of ratepayers through 2040. The staff fiscal summary listed partial fiscal impacts for Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation and Ecology rulemaking (roughly $300,000 and $260,000 in specific biennia).

Public testimony: consensus on need, debate on powers and structure

Supporters included labor groups, renewable advocates and environmental organizations. Rebecca Poncio and Dan Seaman of the Department of Commerce framed the bill as an agency‑request measure to coordinate planning, community engagement and permitting best practices. Maya Gillette of BlueGreen Alliance and Renewable Northwest’s Casey McClain said the bill would fill a gap by creating an entity that can plan transmission with an eye to state policy and jobs. The Northwest and Intermountain Power Producers Coalition and several utilities endorsed the concept while recommending changes to scope and governance.

Common concerns raised by multiple witnesses

• Structure and independence: Several industry witnesses and utilities urged that the office be an independent authority with its own board rather than a subdivision of Commerce to avoid appearance of political influence and to insulate project‑selection decisions.

• Eminent domain and state ownership: Utilities, industry groups and large energy customers voiced caution about granting the state power to acquire rights of way by eminent domain and to own or operate transmission; they asked for clear sideboards to protect ratepayers and ensure private capital participation.

•Permitting and duplication: Multiple testifiers warned the bill could duplicate existing regional planning (Western Power Pool, Westech) and federally required planning processes, and said the primary barrier to building new energized transmission lines is permitting time and uncertainty rather than planning alone.

•SEPA categorical exclusion scope: Tribes and conservation groups supported streamlined treatment for reconductoring within existing rights‑of‑way but asked for stronger protections for tribal cultural resources and careful consultation with the Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation and affected tribes.

Notable technical and budget details

•Reconductor incentive: The bill would allow an increment up to 2% to the rate of return for investor‑owned utilities for reconductoring projects that benefit ratepayers, for projects installed after July 2025 and through the depreciable life of the investment (but no later than Dec. 31, 2040). UTC would report on the incentive’s effects.

•Fiscal estimates: Staff cited a partial fiscal note estimating roughly $300,000 (2025‑27) and $260,000 (2027‑29) for DAHP and Ecology rulemaking; Commerce’s cost estimate was not yet available.

Voices from tribes, labor and industry

Dawn Vivian of the Yakama Nation voiced general support but asked for clarifying language to ensure treaty‑reserved resources are protected and that confidentiality and advanced survey needs are addressed. Labor and apprenticeship representatives urged inclusion of worker safety and qualification standards. Renewable and environmental groups emphasized maximizing use of existing rights of way, non‑wire alternatives and tribal consultation. Utilities such as Avista and Puget Sound Energy supported the objective but pressed that the bill does not address permitting timelines and warned about duplicative effort and state operations responsibility.

Committee next steps

Senator Shoemake, the bill’s prime sponsor, framed the measure as an incubation approach inside Commerce with an eye toward eventual establishment of a standalone authority if warranted. Committee members asked for follow‑up on public records protections, clarification on interactions with DNR and federal processes (NEPA/FERC), and suggested further work on membership and governance details.

Ending

The committee closed public testimony after more than 40 witnesses and a large number of written submissions; no committee action or vote on SB 5466 was taken during the hearing.","Senators received a detailed briefing and lengthy public testimony on Senate Bill 5466, a proposal to establish a Washington Electric Transmission Office within the Department of Commerce and to authorize a range of activities intended to expand transmission capacity and speed upgrades.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commerce seeks new Clean Energy Development Office to speed siting, dashboard and battery storage guidance

Bonneville officials brief Senate committee on transmission capacity, queue growth and grid-enhancing technologies

Bill to shield local governments that assist FSEC from certain appeals advances to committee hearing

Committee weighs bill to create Washington Electric Transmission Office as stakeholders debate scope and eminent‑domain powers