[{"_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",6183514,"mediaKeyId","5094870-572a04afa5b848bac9cee83083346236","parentId",5094870,"title","FSEC recommends governor approve Carriger Solar and 63 MW battery; council approves recommendation 6-1","audioSeconds",4269,"startMs",784000,"endMs",5053000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5094870-572a04afa5b848bac9cee83083346236&start=784&end=5053","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5094870-572a04afa5b848bac9cee83083346236/thumbnail_784000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6183514/Washington/FSEC-recommends-governor-approve-Carriger-Solar-and-63-MW-battery-council-approves-recommendation-6-1","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6183514-7251118c35d921f3417f4fde2afcb43c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770691660&Signature=lZU3o2VW4R41padV6byDiMDqg6-1Vi59--Ugp4uqAzVhqHyfrsl2ncWXwcBGvaKEQjwDwu7M~vlPDXx-9zyrdMWjzTQmUSbRjXUmM80MSpEInAq5vLf8QUGILB5Aj0-Huw0B8EtgFvV12AdCAvzMflTcpinGgJZFoXucJbkyF0rQOCyM-MfjCvNKyqiN5v0U1AfJRNPh97HXjm7Lvjyw2rvr-db3~X2CREWwRnGIv7lbf9ohMjEUroQM3daBwtayA-fgLgL5hFMOkcHmG8-8-UhChVLyDc54CgQAMwtTnpGLhB~8kweZsHval0Q0RsY6aSYGarNS7tt6y4qvs5oVOg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council, Washington","date","2025-06-28T20:50:55.673Z","article","The Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council voted to recommend that the governor approve the draft site certification agreement and accompanying recommendation report for the Carriger Solar Project in Klickitat County, moving the project forward despite public opposition and concerns from local officials.

FSEC staff said the draft site certification agreement and a revised mitigated determination of non-significance (RMDNS) were revised after direct consultation with the Yakama Nation and public comment and were published for public review in June. \"We refined the draft SCA to address several of the Yakama Nation's concerns following the June 4 meeting,\" said Joanne Snarski, siting specialist for the council. \"Those revisions and other edits were published for comment and are reflected in the draft that the council considered today.\"

The Carriger project is proposed as a 160-megawatt solar-only generation facility paired with a 63-megawatt battery energy storage system on privately owned land in Klickitat County. Project materials state the application would occupy up to 1,326 acres within a 2,108-acre lease boundary; those figures come from the project's SCA materials presented to the council.

Why it matters: FSEC is the state body that reviews and, where appropriate, certifies large energy facilities and recommends approval to the governor. A recommendation from FSEC does not itself grant construction authority; it forwards a proposed SCA and staff report to the governor for final action. The council’s approval means the application advances to the executive for consideration, while permit-level details and required plans remain subject to conditions and further review.

What staff told the council

Snarski and Sean Green, FSEC’s State Environmental Policy Act specialist, said staff incorporated mitigation measures into the RMDNS and the draft SCA after the Yakama Nation requested additional protections. Specific changes described to the council included: a requirement that the applicant provide the Yakama Nation an opportunity to review the project’s initial and detailed site restoration plans; language to ensure tribal access to public lands is retained throughout construction; and a requirement that the applicant evaluate available battery chemistries at the time of replacement and submit a comparative assessment to FSEC.

Staff said the RMDNS includes five key changes from the earlier determination, including revised laydown yard setbacks (1,200 feet for primary yards and 800 feet for ancillary yards), a combined approach to visual screening on the shared boundary with a Department of Natural Resources parcel (earthen berms, rock piles and native vegetation rather than continuous berms), an administrative cleanup, and a requirement to install an opaque, enclosed 10,000-gallon water cistern to assist in smoke-containment during a battery fire event.

On safety and emergency response

Council members pressed staff and the applicant on fire response and emergency notification. \"The SCA also requires that the applicant prepare a fire response plan and emergency management plan in cooperation with the county and the local fire protection district,\" Sean Green said. He added those plans must be approved by FSEC prior to the start of construction and updated annually. Green also said the applicant has begun coordinating with the local fire chief on access, keys and spacing in panel rows to allow emergency equipment to pass.

Klickitat County representative Matt Chiles told the council county emergency services do not have capacity to fight a large battery fire and asked what the applicant will provide. \"I appreciate the adjustments that have been made, but emergency response and firefighting remains my biggest concern over the whole project,\" Chiles said. Chiles also urged FSEC to prioritize battery chemistries that minimize thermal runaway risk when replacement is planned.

On water availability and operations

Councilors asked about potable water for the maintenance facility. Staff said the draft SCA requires the applicant to secure legal water use prior to the start of construction and again prior to operations; if legal water is not secured, the applicant would not be allowed to start construction and would be noncompliant with the SCA. Staff noted some solar projects use intermittent staffing patterns and nontraditional potable water connections (for example, new service connections or permitted systems), but long-term reliance on trucked water for a permanent facility would not meet public-health rules.

Public comments and other concerns

Staff reported sixteen comments on the RMDNS (one from the Yakama Nation, one from the applicant and 14 from members of the public), with the most frequent substantive concerns addressing fire hazard, visual aesthetics and loss of farmland. The Yakama Nation’s submission questioned whether FSEC’s TCP (traditional cultural property) mitigation was sufficient; staff said they used Bureau of Land Management visual contrast methods and consultant input to quantify visual impacts and concluded the proposed mitigation would reduce impacts to below significance as defined by SEPA. The applicant requested clarifying language that the natural screening is \"periodic\" rather than continuous; staff agreed to include that clarification in the final text.

Council action and vote

Stacy Brewster, representing the Utilities and Transportation Commission, moved to approve the draft SCA as amended and the staff report recommending that the governor approve the Carriger Solar Project; Councilor Campbell seconded. After discussion, the council conducted a roll-call vote. The clerk announced the tally as six ayes and one nay; the motion passed and the council's recommendation will be forwarded to the governor for consideration.

What happens next

If the governor accepts FSEC’s recommendation, project-level plans required by the SCA — including the final fire response and emergency-management plans, the detailed site restoration plan and the final financial assurance instrument — must be submitted and approved per the SCA conditions before construction or operations, as specified. Staff told the council they will finalize the RMDNS and the SCA text to incorporate the minor wording clarifications discussed at the meeting.

Ending

Councilors said they expect continued engagement as the project proceeds. Chiles thanked the council for adjustments made to the application, while reiterating that many county residents remain strongly opposed to the project’s siting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","June 25, 2025 Monthly Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council voted to recommend that the governor approve the draft site certification agreement and recommendation report for the Carriger Solar Project in Klickitat County, advancing the 160-megawatt solar project paired with a 63-megawatt battery storage system despite local opposition.","taxTitle","Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council, Governor's Office - Boards & Commissions, Executive, Washington","taxId",24238,"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},6183501,"FSEC launches redesigned website; staff request feedback via websitehelp@fsec.wa.gov",273,6275000,6548000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5094870-572a04afa5b848bac9cee83083346236&start=6275&end=6548","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5094870-572a04afa5b848bac9cee83083346236/thumbnail_6275000.jpg","/articles/6183501/Washington/FSEC-launches-redesigned-website-staff-request-feedback-via-websitehelpfsecwagov","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6183501-163e3fd9e24fbc0dd0cb488b425a3c7a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770691660&Signature=OezhUNfkljKuD5seypu8O~VPCV5pTCj7wyW-PNPGw-hfOgTjAaJETmxTbT1g2LntT2aKBaZEMszXmmR2P4htIYjhLoAYfuo-GKNWgISCYssI3kXmtPhChnjPhEwoVCTxRW~dof3Uv8rsqMR17otSHAI6GgrFRD4FO3ixft6R6HXJjPoKe2k9g3l8ECU1I-GFnt2glrrLqWRpctNfUWTxjLLrYD5aOkl3hULhu7LJK3OfpE0frj2QUQ2e13G7d0v6QH0Ub2~8HNn2F4flN5NgehCpA8~xnHBspJFov4JvmZl-gT4AUtKkN0qitFxlv0FWnZMPy6UWIkkyG2QeOEarjQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council launched a redesigned public website to make meeting access and project information easier to find and asked users to report issues to websitehelp@fsec.wa.gov while the site enters a stabilization phase.

\"This morning at 7 a.m., we launched our new website,\" said Dave Walker, interim director of administrative services. He said the nine‑month effort reorganized project pages, placed upcoming events prominently on the landing page and clarified project phase information. Walker said staff will carry out a two- to three-month stabilization period to complete a punch list of items and continue to refine content.

Director Sonia Bumpus thanked staff and said the website supports public transparency. Staff asked anyone experiencing access issues to email websitehelp@fsec.wa.gov and noted the site includes a help or search function as well.

Ending

FSEC staff will continue to refine content and fix issues reported during the stabilization period; the agency said it plans additional improvements as the agency grows and its workload increases.","The Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council unveiled a reorganized public website designed to make project materials and upcoming meetings easier to find; staff asked users to report access problems to websitehelp@fsec.wa.gov while they complete a two-to-three month stabilization period.",{"_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},6183505,"FSEC delays vote on delegation-of-authority update; staff to post tracked edits and return in July",297,5807000,6104000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5094870-572a04afa5b848bac9cee83083346236&start=5807&end=6104","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5094870-572a04afa5b848bac9cee83083346236/thumbnail_5807000.jpg","/articles/6183505/Washington/FSEC-delays-vote-on-delegation-of-authority-update-staff-to-post-tracked-edits-and-return-in-July","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6183505-c6e134dcc55fcb6d83c5958603b8c233/orig.mp4?Expires=1770691660&Signature=SaAWDzHrzxYR2bOzvSc8zUvOaE6Kdn~Ngo2JbqFsPqZlFBCf6~o8UBxjksLvisr-rqzYSp9e5BjYavMGWWlKp3Go~IjpDmukIBazYGb08qy9vmGMsfzbEIgELFbR1omWTBaKgW7y4zMIfWLPSPPbumACQuPObpvmGbITmCztfSA4fPIt702FCVOX5lph3ctVFLsALORLNBI~pMEn6rlEz5Ttn0hEcnOx4jwucp4SMInL8xJd1y2NxmChMIQyzhT44HiBbazGo8S2H5hGUYGmYy7-a5cXoHzHU-cRkiD2r7eZ7aXZfzNMhL~CgzvznqRfZFQwKFShL8wFA~dl5H1yZQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","FSEC staff briefed the council on planned updates to Policy 16-1, which delegates certain facility-plan approval authorities to agency staff, and the council agreed to delay any formal action until the July meeting to allow additional public review and legal review of tracked edits.

\"The policy references a manager position that no longer exists and needs updating,\" said Sonia Bumpus, FSEC executive director. She said the updates are largely housekeeping to reflect the agency's current organization and to clarify the range of facility plans staff may approve for newer technology types and nontraditional facilities.

Staff also said they received public comments expressing concern about possible substantive changes. To provide transparency, staff will post the draft with tracked changes and a response-to-comments summary and will request input from the agency's attorney before bringing the item back to council. \"We plan to post the underlying tracked version of the revisions and take the policy up at the July meeting,\" Bumpus said.

Why it matters

The delegation policy establishes which plan approvals and ministerial actions can be completed under director or staff authority and which decisions must be considered by the full council. As the FSEC portfolio expands into new facility types (for example, hydrogen and clean-energy manufacturing), staff said clarifying plan categories and delegation limits helps ensure consistent review and public notice.

Next steps

Staff will post the tracked edits and a response-to-comments summary, consult with the agency attorney about substantive concerns, and return the item for council consideration at the July meeting. Council members praised the decision to extend the review period.","Council received a staff briefing on proposed updates to the agency's delegation-of-authority policy (Policy 16-1) and agreed to postpone action until July after staff post the tracked edits and review public comments with counsel.",{"_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},6183510,"FSEC unanimously approves termination of Desert Claim Wind site certificate",237,5500000,5737000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5094870-572a04afa5b848bac9cee83083346236&start=5500&end=5737","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5094870-572a04afa5b848bac9cee83083346236/thumbnail_5500000.jpg","/articles/6183510/Washington/FSEC-unanimously-approves-termination-of-Desert-Claim-Wind-site-certificate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6183510-0e89a282b6467cd02e53c667d40f08a3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770691660&Signature=NafgTZJSf13tmr7uVxWb5P5cJccxznJUgg5tAF-bLUZtCSfmq4FnYQHBeol2nrHPRvpeoUV3e3rbDSGwo0mivzEVD9ldNuTxzRPn8qxTeGMKNP2lDqs-CaRZCyTQk~HEtKlGmjFJ6XYesldphBxLwbkfDDWaBZAhyD9I4vl4ut24w5FqR9mXHLMbvAuZDpnnDrA3w0X0pszX9yLJGQ1TG7EScR-g4WOpo16XCtvpRlwNLOWLzcnpNj15Xt~3HvfuWyktCPU-zkoTQ05a24PD0ozut-~UIXodciN8i6kGAMDBI6RFQxb0PL0NXVIZFhKxet93VW2WLSs0AK54okoWLg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council voted unanimously to approve a staff resolution terminating the Desert Claim Wind Project site certification agreement at the certificate holder's request.

FSEC staff said Desert Claim Wind Power LLC asked to terminate the SCA because construction had not commenced and the company no longer saw a path to financing construction. \"The resolution grants Desert Claim Wind Power's termination request,\" Amy Moon, reporting for FSEC staff, said during the meeting.

Staff told the council the public comment period for the draft termination resolution produced one comment, which did not prompt changes to the staff recommendation. The resolution was edited before adoption to clarify procedural language and to note the single comment received during the public comment period.

Council action

Elizabeth Osborne moved to approve draft resolution 356 terminating the Desert Claim Wind SCA; Claudia Young seconded. The motion carried unanimously.

Ending

FSEC staff will update the project file to reflect the termination and maintain a record of the comment received during the public comment period; there was no further action ordered by the council at today's meeting.","The Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council granted Desert Claim Wind Power LLC's request to terminate its site certification agreement, accepting staff recommendation and closing the project’s SCA file.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

FSEC recommends governor approve Carriger Solar and 63 MW battery; council approves recommendation 6-1

FSEC launches redesigned website; staff request feedback via websitehelp@fsec.wa.gov

FSEC delays vote on delegation-of-authority update; staff to post tracked edits and return in July

FSEC unanimously approves termination of Desert Claim Wind site certificate