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Senator Hunt: transmission authority will help move more clean energy onto Washington's grid
Summary
Senator Victoria Hunt said the session passed a transmission authority to identify corridors and speed permitting to deliver clean energy where it's needed, framing the change as a critical economic-competitiveness step for the state.
At the East King Chambers Coalition forum, Senator Victoria Hunt highlighted energy- and transmission-related constraints that affect economic development and said lawmakers passed a transmission authority this session to help address grid bottlenecks.
Hunt said Washington benefits from clean energy and strong workforce assets but faces challenges connecting generation to demand because much of the grid is controlled by the Bonneville Power Administration. "We were, as a state, really stifled by the lack of ability to connect up to our electric grid," Hunt said, adding that a new transmission authority will help identify corridors and serve as a basis for permitting reform and reconductoring projects to increase capacity.
Panelists said expanding transmission capacity is important both to power data centers and to support electrification of transportation and manufacturing. Hunt cautioned the authority is not a single fix but a platform lawmakers can use to drive permitting and infrastructure changes that would support business investment and housing goals.
The forum recorded no formal votes. The transmission authority was discussed as a legislative outcome from the recent session rather than as a pending proposal at this event.
