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Bill would let federal NEPA review substitute for state siting review on projects wholly on federal land; supporters and conservation groups urge changes
Summary
Senate Bill 969 would allow projects wholly sited on federal land that complete a NEPA environmental review to avoid duplicate review by Oregon’s Energy Facility Siting Council (EFSC); proponents say it will cut time and cost, critics warn federal review could be weakened and call for stronger local involvement and enforcement mechanisms.
Senate Bill 969, presented Feb. 26 to the Senate Energy and Environment Committee, would limit the Energy Facility Siting Council’s jurisdiction over renewable energy facilities or transmission lines sited entirely on federal land if the facility has undergone federal review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
Sponsor Sen. David Brock Smith and renewable-development witnesses argued that duplicative state and federal permitting — with EFSC reviews often taking a year and costing roughly a million dollars — has discouraged projects on federally managed lands. Max Yawclick, in-house counsel at New Sun Energy, said the bill would accept the federal process (NEPA EIS/EA and related federal laws) in lieu of a separate EFSC site…
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