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Committee advances transmission bill creating an authority, SEPA processes and county permitting requirements amid debate over eminent domain
Summary
Substitute Senate Bill 5,466, which would create a Washington Electric Transmission Authority, add county permitting deadlines, and revise SEPA review for certain transmission projects, was reported out of the Environment & Energy Committee with a due-pass as amended recommendation after extended debate and divided roll-call votes.
March 27 — The House Environment & Energy Committee voted to report substitute Senate Bill 5,466 out of committee with amendments after detailed staff briefings and a roll-call vote that split the committee.
Committee staff Meg Grit Fadden summarized the striking amendment and broader provisions of the bill, saying it “establishes the Washington Electric Transmission Authority,” directs the Department of Commerce to conduct needs assessments and provide support for local and tribal governments, provides a categorical SEPA exemption for certain transmission projects, and (in prior versions) included an incentive rate of return for utility transmission investments that was later removed in the striking amendment.
The striking amendment (H2048.1) and several subsequent amendments revised the authority’s stated purposes (adding…
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