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Skagit County public commenters raise health, environmental and fairness concerns about battery storage proposal
Summary
Multiple residents urged the commissioners to oppose or scrutinize battery energy storage projects, citing noise, potential chemical contamination after fires, farmland impacts and concerns about fair treatment of local commenters versus out-of-county representatives.
Residents used the public-comment period at the Skagit County Board of Commissioners meeting on May 26, 2026, to press the board on pending and nearby battery energy storage (BES) projects and other local issues.
Ingrid Hinton of South Mount Vernon read a statement from Zach Small describing a reply from the utility (PSC). Quoting the statement, she said PSC’s response was that “we didn't do anything wrong… but we're fixing that thing we didn't do wrong, and we're re-fixing the thing we didn't do wrong with the cheapest method possible,” and noted the company’s plan to complete work by August. Hinton later summarized a Stewards of Skagit appeal of a permit for a Bayview Ridge BES project and warned that a decision allowing that project could open the door to other facilities (she named “Golden Eye” and “Seager Wooley” as examples mentioned in local coverage).
Elke McCartney (Anacortes), who participated remotely, urged commissioners not to permit BES installations and cited health concerns related to continuous industrial cooling fans, transformer electromagnetic emissions and long-term impacts after thermal-runaway fires. McCartney quoted a Moss Landing fire survivor who described severe, lingering health problems and said, “This was a catastrophic event for many residents and the ecosystem.”
Kenneth Dunning told the board that special interests manipulate public opinion and questioned the role of the Washington State Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council in overriding local governments, urging the commissioners to insist on local knowledge and environmental protections.
Other commenters raised separate issues: Harvey Hochsma urged dredging the Skagit River to protect farmland and safety; Rebecca Peck criticized an earlier meeting where an out-of-county attorney reportedly spoke for more than six minutes while local residents are limited to three; and Loretta Humble requested public-works engagement on North Shore road closures at Lake Cavanaugh, warning that the closure could impede volunteer fire response.
No formal action or response was recorded during the public-comment period; commissioners acknowledged the comments and returned to other agenda items and presentations.
The commentary suggests an active local opposition to BES projects and a demand for clearer county responses on safety, environmental risk and fairness in the public-comment process.
