Washington Code 80.50.060 – Energy facilities to which chapter applies — Applications for certification — Forms — Council’s duties — Potential effects to tribal cultural resources

(1)(a) The provisions of this chapter apply to the construction of energy facilities which includes the new construction of energy facilities and the reconstruction or enlargement of existing energy facilities where the net increase in physical capacity or dimensions resulting from such reconstruction or enlargement meets or exceeds those capacities or dimensions set forth in RCW 80.50.020 (14) and (29). No construction or reconstruction of such energy facilities may be undertaken, except as otherwise provided in this chapter, without first obtaining certification in the manner provided in this chapter.

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Terms Used In Washington Code 80.50.060

Alternative energy resource: includes energy facilities of the following types: (a) Wind; (b) solar energy; (c) geothermal energy; (d) renewable natural gas; (e) wave or tidal action; (f) biomass energy based on solid organic fuels from wood, forest, or field residues, or dedicated energy crops that do not include wood pieces that have been treated with chemical preservatives such as creosote, pentachlorophenol, or copper-chrome-arsenic; or (g) renewable or green electrolytic hydrogen. See Washington Code 80.50.020
Applicant: means any person who makes application for a site certification pursuant to the provisions of this chapter. See Washington Code 80.50.020
Application: means any request for approval of a particular site or sites filed in accordance with the procedures established pursuant to this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires. See Washington Code 80.50.020
Biofuel: means a liquid or gaseous fuel derived from organic matter including, but not limited to, biodiesel, renewable diesel, ethanol, renewable natural gas, and renewable propane. See Washington Code 80.50.020
Certification: means a binding agreement between an applicant and the state which shall embody compliance to the siting guidelines, in effect as of the date of certification, which have been adopted pursuant to RCW 80. See Washington Code 80.50.020
Construction: means on-site improvements, excluding exploratory work, which cost in excess of two hundred fifty thousand dollars. See Washington Code 80.50.020
Council: means the energy facility site evaluation council created by RCW 80. See Washington Code 80.50.020
Department: means the department of health. See Washington Code 80.04.010
Electrical transmission facilities: means electrical power lines and related equipment. See Washington Code 80.50.020
Energy facility: means an energy plant or transmission facilities: PROVIDED, That the following are excluded from the provisions of this chapter:

Washington Code 80.50.020

Facilities: means lines, conduits, ducts, poles, wires, cables, cross-arms, receivers, transmitters, instruments, machines, appliances, instrumentalities and all devices, real estate, easements, apparatus, property and routes used, operated, owned or controlled by any telecommunications company to facilitate the provision of telecommunications service. See Washington Code 80.04.010

information: means knowledge or intelligence represented by any form of writing, signs, signals, pictures, sounds, or any other symbols. See Washington Code 80.04.010

Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.

Site: means any proposed or approved location of an energy facility, alternative energy resource, clean energy product manufacturing facility, or electrical transmission facility. See Washington Code 80.50.020

Statute: A law passed by a legislature.

Transmission facility: means any of the following together with their associated facilities:

Washington Code 80.50.020

(b) If applicants proposing the following types of facilities choose to receive certification under this chapter, the provisions of this chapter apply to the construction, reconstruction, or enlargement of these new or existing facilities:

(i) Facilities that produce refined biofuel, but which are not capable of producing 25,000 barrels or more per day;

(ii) Alternative energy resource facilities;

(iii) Electrical transmission facilities: (A) Of a nominal voltage of at least 115,000 volts; and (B) located in more than one jurisdiction that has promulgated land use plans or zoning ordinances;

(iv) Clean energy product manufacturing facilities; and

(v) Storage facilities.

(c) All of the council‘s powers with regard to energy facilities apply to all of the facilities in (b) of this subsection and these facilities are subject to all provisions of this chapter that apply to an energy facility.

(2)(a) The provisions of this chapter must apply to:

(i) The construction, reconstruction, or enlargement of new or existing electrical transmission facilities: (A) Of a nominal voltage of at least 500,000 volts alternating current or at least 300,000 volts direct current; (B) located in more than one county; and (C) located in the Washington service area of more than one retail electric utility; and

(ii) The construction, reconstruction, or modification of electrical transmission facilities when the facilities are located in a national interest electric transmission corridor as specified in RCW 80.50.045.

(b) For the purposes of this subsection, “modification” means a significant change to an electrical transmission facility and does not include the following: (i) Minor improvements such as the replacement of existing transmission line facilities or supporting structures with equivalent facilities or structures; (ii) the relocation of existing electrical transmission line facilities; (iii) the conversion of existing overhead lines to underground; or (iv) the placing of new or additional conductors, supporting structures, insulators, or their accessories on or replacement of supporting structures already built.

(3) The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to normal maintenance and repairs which do not increase the capacity or dimensions beyond those set forth in RCW 80.50.020 (14) and (29).

(4) Applications for certification of energy facilities made prior to July 15, 1977, shall continue to be governed by the applicable provisions of law in effect on the day immediately preceding July 15, 1977, with the exceptions of RCW 80.50.071 which shall apply to such prior applications and to site certifications prospectively from July 15, 1977.

(5) Applications for certification shall be upon forms prescribed by the council and shall be supported by such information and technical studies as the council may require.

(6) Upon receipt of an application for certification under this chapter, the chair of the council shall notify:

(a) The appropriate county legislative authority or authorities where the proposed facility is located;

(b) The appropriate city legislative authority or authorities where the proposed facility is located;

(d) The appropriate federally recognized tribal governments that may be affected by the proposed facility.

(7) The council must work with local governments where a project is proposed to be sited in order to provide for meaningful participation and input during siting review and compliance monitoring.

(8) The council must consult with all federally recognized tribes that possess resources, rights, or interests reserved or protected by federal treaty, statute, or executive order in the area where an energy facility is proposed to be located to provide early and meaningful participation and input during siting review and compliance monitoring. The chair and designated staff must offer to conduct government-to-government consultation to address issues of concern raised by such a tribe. The goal of the consultation process is to identify tribal resources or rights potentially affected by the proposed energy facility and to seek ways to avoid, minimize, or mitigate any adverse effects on tribal resources or rights. The chair must provide regular updates on the consultation to the council throughout the application review process. The report from the council to the governor required in RCW 80.50.100 must include a summary of the government-to-government consultation process that complies with RCW 42.56.300, including the issues and proposed resolutions.

(9) The department of archaeology and historic preservation shall coordinate with the affected federally recognized tribes and the applicant in order to assess potential effects to tribal cultural resources, archaeological sites, and sacred sites.

[ 2023 c 229 § 4; 2022 c 183 § 6; 2021 c 317 § 18; 2007 c 325 § 2; 2006 c 196 § 4; 2001 c 214 § 2; 1977 ex.s. c 371 § 5; 1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 108 § 34; 1970 ex.s. c 45 § 6.]