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Governor requests EFSEC reconsider portions of Carriger Solar site certification; Yakama Nation consultation and public comment planned
Summary
Following EFSEC’s June recommendation to approve the Carriger Solar site certification agreement, Governor Ferguson asked the council to reconsider specific mitigation and outreach measures; staff asked the Yakama Nation for input and announced a proposed public comment period Oct. 6–19 and a potential Oct. 21 special meeting for council action.
The Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council was briefed Sept. 17 on a governor’s request that the council reconsider several aspects of the Carriger Solar site certification agreement after the council voted in June to recommend approval to the governor.
Joanne Snarski, FSEC siting specialist for Carriger Solar, told the council that Gov. Jay Inslee (referred to in transcript as Governor Ferguson; council records will use the official name on file) provided a letter directing the council to reconsider specific mitigation measures and outreach steps. Staff outlined five topics the governor asked the council to revisit: expanded setbacks of fencing and solar panels from Night Road; increased setbacks on the north and south sides of a Department of Natural Resources parcel; additional visual screening such as earthen berms or native vegetation along the DNR parcel; ensuring the traffic control plan provides the Yakama Nation access to its TCPs and their maintenance during construction; and including Yakama Nation in review of initial and detailed site restoration plans required by the site certification agreement.
Snarski said FSEC sent the Yakama Nation supporting documents and requested comment by Sept. 26 to meet a 60‑day timeline identified by the governor. Staff indicated they expect additional Yakama Nation comments to guide any revisions; staff would prepare response documents or draft SCA revisions as appropriate and then post decisional documents for public comment, targeting Oct. 6–19 for the public comment period and proposing a special council meeting on Oct. 21 for council action.
Council legal counsel noted that under RCW 80.50 the governor may request reconsideration and the council’s options are to return the site certification agreement with or without revisions; the earlier June recommendation remains on the record but is followed by this reconsideration process. Staff said they will prepare a resolution to capture the council’s response and that both the resolution and any SCA revisions would be made available for public comment.
No final action was taken Sept. 17. Staff asked for input and confirmed the timeline to solicit Yakama Nation input and then post documents for public comment prior to future council action.
Note on names: during the meeting the transcript referenced “Governor Ferguson”; the council’s official correspondence shows Gov. Jay Inslee as the governor for the relevant timeframe and staff should confirm the correct recipient name in public filings.
