Avangrid asks county to discontinue Pebble Springs CUP annual report; planning staff to follow up

A representative for Avangrid asked the Gilliam County Court on May 7 to discontinue an annual reporting requirement tied to a 2006 conditional use permit (CUP) for the Pebble Springs wind project in Arlington.

Matt Stellmock, senior permit compliance manager for Avangrid, told the court he could not find records that the annual reporting requirement had ever been implemented and asked the county to provide documentation if the condition remained in effect or to discontinue the requirement.

Carla McClain, acting planning director, said limited preliminary work by the planning department supported Stellmock’s observation: the planning files do not show evidence of an annual review being processed. McClain said the original final decision was a planning commission decision and that an official modification to a CUP would normally be handled through the planning department and planning commission process, possibly by a planning director resolution. McClain also noted the county needs to confirm whether the original CUP was formally transferred between predecessor project entities (PPM Energy, Iberdrola, Avangrid) and whether other CUPs in the county carry similar reporting requirements.

The court directed Stellmock to work with the planning department (Carla or Stephanie Case on her return from leave) to research the permit transfer history and recommend next steps. The county asked the planning department to return to the court with a recommendation after staff completes its review and any necessary planning‑commission or planning‑director actions.

No immediate change was made to the CUP; county staff said they will research transfer documentation and the formal process for amendment or discontinuation of the reporting requirement and will report back when they have a recommendation.