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Port Angeles and Clallam PUD outline joint planning for large‑scale renewables, storage
Summary
City and PUD staff described ongoing collaboration and grant‑funded studies to site utility‑scale generation, storage and community solar on the Olympic Peninsula, and named partners from regional labs and agencies supporting feasibility work.
Port Angeles and Clallam County Public Utility District officials told council members Tuesday about coordinated work to identify and develop large‑scale renewable generation and storage on the Olympic Peninsula. The PUD said it has secured a Department of Energy clean‑energy innovation fellow and has begun feasibility outreach with multiple technical partners.
Why it matters: Local officials said utility‑scale generation or storage could reduce long‑term exposure to BPA market and PRDM charges, support resilience and help attract industry — but siting and permitting choices, transmission access and cost will determine viability.
What staff said: The PUD’s presentation described a feasibility program that covers environmental, social, permitting and financial assessments and named collaborators including the Washington State Department of Commerce, GridWorks (a Department of Commerce consultant), Renewable Hydrogen Alliance, Energy Northwest, Bonneville Environmental Foundation, regional laboratories (PNNL, NREL) and universities (WSU, University of British Columbia). The PUD also said it is participating in the Climate Commitment Act carbon allowance auction; auction proceeds would help finance development of utility‑scale projects.
City work & projects: Port Angeles said it has added solar plus battery storage to recent municipal construction — the Senior Center is completed with a full solar array and battery backup, and the Fifth Street Fire Station is in design for a roof‑mounted array plus battery. The city’s capital facilities plan (CFP) includes planning funds ($10,000 in 2025–26) to study and develop a community solar project and identifies a goal to produce a “funding‑ready community solar project by Dec. 30, 2026.”
Partnership and next steps: PUD and city staff described formal agreements for equipment and mutual aid, and said they are open to joint projects, including co‑sited generation and coordinated siting to optimize transmission access. The PUD plans an RFQ for the feasibility a/e study and said an earlier $128,000 award (see Eddysoke item) will fund a related A&E study for damaged floats; the utility‑scale siting effort will pursue additional grants and lab partnerships for environmental and technical analysis.
Quotes from the meeting: “We have acquired a clean energy innovation fellow through a Department of Energy grant,” PUD staff said, describing the fellow’s expected role in outreach, scoping, and project management. City public works director Scott Curtin said municipal strategic plan goals now include asset‑level battery backup for future municipal buildings and development of a community solar study.
What’s next: Staff said the feasibility work will feed into future CFP requests and grant applications. No formal intergovernmental agreement or city resolution was adopted at Tuesday’s meeting; staff asked council to indicate continued interest and to consider joint siting and funding opportunities before the next CFP cycle.
