Lawmakers hear broad support, questions for microgrid package as witnesses urge PUC framework and third‑party interconnection option

House Climate, Energy, and Environment Committee members opened a series of hearings Feb. 6 on three related measures aimed at expanding microgrid deployment and community energy resilience: House Bill 2066 (PUC investigation and regulatory framework for microgrids), House Bill 2064 (grid disconnection standards and community microgrid zones), and House Bill 2065 (allow third‑party interconnection/engineering studies).

Proponents representing utilities, counties, nonprofits, local governments and industry described microgrids as a resilience tool against increasingly frequent outages from wildfires, extreme weather and seismic events. Alex Klingman of Sustainable Northwest said the bills respond to requests from rural communities seeking “energy independence, resilience, and disaster preparedness,” and urged lawmakers to pass HB 2066 to give the Public Utility Commission (PUC) a directive to “determine the benefits and constraints of microgrid development” and clarify ownership and compensation frameworks.

Multiple witnesses told the committee that unclear rules and long interconnection timelines are the primary barriers to projects. Commissioner John Hillock described local impacts from extended outages and…