Richland council approves BPA transmission agreements tied to Atlas Agro amid heavy public opposition

The Richland City Council on June 16 approved two companion agreements authorizing Bonneville Power Administration to design transmission infrastructure and order long‑lead electrical equipment tied to potential development in the Northwest Advanced Clean Energy Park, including sites under option to Atlas Agro. Council approved the measures as Resolution 2026‑84 by unanimous consent.

The two agreements—one reimbursable agreement with BPA and a cost allocation agreement with Atlas Agro—cover engineering and procurement work for transmission to a proposed Triton Substation and twin 500‑kilovolt lines. Staff said the package represents roughly $51.3 million in prepayment commitments for long‑lead materials and design; prior payments of $6.2 million toward earlier preliminary engineering were also reported. City staff and presenters repeatedly stressed those payments are third‑party prepayments made to BPA and that the city does not plan to advance the funds itself.

Why it matters: Council members and staff said the agreements advance critical infrastructure capacity—approximately 1,300 megawatts of potential capacity at full build—that would be needed for large industrial loads in the 1,641‑acre park. Staff emphasized that long lead times for specialized equipment (up to about 200 weeks) make early procurement necessary if future projects are to meet development timelines. Opponents countered that the city may be enabling projects with large power and water demands while the community lacks details about environmental, health and fiscal impacts.

Residents packed the public comment period to oppose Atlas Agro and the related transmission work. Connie, a Richland resident, urged council to reject the measures, saying, "This is not a good deal for our community" and arguing that the company has no completed projects since its founding in 2021, would consume "350 megawatts" and could strain local water and electricity supplies. Several other speakers cited water‑table stress, potential pollution and the long legacy of contamination tied to Hanford as reasons to slow or block data‑center or fertilizer projects.

Staff response and council discussion: Clint (staff) and other presenters repeatedly framed the current vote as limited to transmission infrastructure and engineering, not approval of a data center or fertilizer plant. Clint explained that Atlas Agro would pay BPA directly for the reimbursable work and that the city’s obligation is limited to the work that has been prepaid; if payments stop, BPA will not proceed. He also noted that, under the 1980 Northwest Power Act, large single loads above 10 average megawatts cannot be served directly from federal resources and that potential customers must secure their own power contracts in a way that meets Washington’s carbon‑free requirements.

Sean O’Brien, executive director of the Tri Cities Energy Forward Alliance, urged the council and community to separate the transmission agreement from a final approval of any specific customer, saying the vote advances infrastructure that could serve multiple future projects and broader economic development.

Next steps: Staff said additional agreements will be needed to advance design beyond 30%, to secure facilities and retail electric service agreements, and to complete permitting steps including SEPA/NEPA reviews. Council members noted those later steps will be opportunities to review environmental and operational details before any customer load is connected.

Vote and outcome: Council approved Resolution 2026‑84 by unanimous consent. Staff said the agreements’ payments are structured as prepayments by Atlas Agro (third‑party) directly to BPA and that subsequent reimbursements to Atlas Agro would depend on transmission credits and future load.