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FSEC approves minutes, opens 30-day public comment for Austria Solar coverage; multiple project updates reported
Summary
The Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council approved three sets of meeting minutes, voted to release a letter of coverage for Cypress Creek Renewables on behalf of Austria Solar for 30 days of public comment, and heard project updates including Goose Prairie Solar (ahead of schedule) and scheduling for an adjudicative hearing on the WATOMA/Huatoma Solar project.
The Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council on Sept. 18, 2024, approved several administrative items, voted to publish a letter of coverage for Austria Solar’s construction stormwater general permit for a 30-day public comment period, and received operational updates across multiple projects.
Administrative actions Council Chair Kathleen Drew presented three sets of minutes for approval. Motions to approve the GoldenEye BES informational/land use hearing minutes (Aug. 13, 2024), the Aug. 21 monthly meeting minutes, and the Aug. 29 Horse Heaven special meeting minutes were made and seconded; the council approved the minutes and adopted requested amendments to one set.
Public comment release for Austria Solar John Barnes and FSEC staff explained that Austria Solar (coverage to be issued to Cypress Creek Renewables) submitted a Notice of Intent for Ecology’s construction stormwater general permit and that FSEC’s letter of coverage describes procedural differences between Ecology’s general permit and FSEC authorities (for example in appeals, reporting fees and transfer of ownership). Staff asked the council to release the letter of coverage for 30 days of public comment. Lenny Young moved to put the letter out for comment and Stacy Brewster seconded; the motion carried by voice vote.
Project updates - Goose Prairie Solar: Jacob Christ (Brookfield Renewable US) said the project remains ahead of contractual schedule, completed hot commissioning of inverters and punch-list items, is conducting BPA communications and curtailment checks, and is targeting commercial operation on or around Nov. 25, 2024 (substantial completion has moved from mid-September to early October). Christ noted vegetation management and O&M certificate deliverables remain in progress. - WATOMA / Huatoma Solar: Staff reported the adjudicative proceeding is scheduled for Sept. 25 at 9:00 a.m.; a public comment hearing is scheduled for Oct. 3 at 5:00 p.m.; pre-filed documents are available on the council SharePoint. - Hop Hill, Carriger, Wallula/Willow Gap and others: Staff said work continues on studies, wetland delineation amendments, requests for additional information, tribal coordination and interagency review. Ecology is expected to provide final comments on Carriger’s wetland report in mid-October.
The meeting concluded with a battery energy storage update (Golini project) and adjournment. Items that generated formal actions at this meeting were recorded for future tracking and follow-up by FSEC staff.
