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FSEC project updates: Austria Solar fire contained; Columbia Solar ownership transfer, project pauses and tribal consultation policy
Summary
At its June meeting FSEC heard a range of project updates: Austria Solar reported a May brush fire with no injuries and limited equipment damage; Columbia Solar filed an ownership‑transfer request and an informational hearing was scheduled; staff reported developer pause/extension requests for Badger Mountain and a pending stay request for Carriger Solar litigation; FSEC finalized a tribal consultation policy.
FSEC staff and project representatives provided a series of project updates during the council's June meeting, covering operational incidents, procedural filings and litigation status.
Austria Solar: John Volz, representing Cypress Creek and the Austria Solar facility, reported a May 28 thermal event discovered in the arrays that impacted roughly "40 acres" (he said "about 6 blocks of the facility"). Volz said the on‑site representative called local authorities, emergency services arrived and "the fire was fully extinguished by 05:40," with "no injuries." He said the site returned to nameplate generation except for a single impacted row and that replacement of the damaged module and messenger cable was expected by the end of the week.
Columbia Solar: Sarah Randolph, the site specialist assigned to Columbia Solar, said the project submitted a request to transfer ownership pursuant to WAC 463.66 and that staff would hold an informational hearing immediately after the regular meeting and post documents on the FSEC website. Randolph said staff anticipate presenting the council with a decision on the request at the July meeting following public comment and redline review.
Badger Mountain and Carriger Solar: Joanne Snarski reported Avangrid had requested a pause and previous extensions on Badger Mountain; staff expect an action next month if the developer files a further request. On Carriger Solar, Snarski said judicial review with the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation is proceeding; Assistant Attorney General John Thompson told the council the parties expect to seek a stay of proceedings while they pursue settlement discussions and that a stay request would likely be filed in the coming days.
GoldenEye and Wallula Gap: Snarski and Maria Belkino briefed the council on GoldenEye battery energy storage (staff continue cultural resources review and tribal feedback indicates opposition at key locations) and on Wallula Gap (staff are coordinating with Ecology and the Yakama Nation on TCP and wetlands issues).
Tribal consultation policy: Lisa McClain announced FSEC finalized and distributed a policy statement on consultation and coordination with tribal governments following outreach that began in January and a March meeting. McClain said the policy will be a living document; council members discussed clarifying language about when attendance at consultations by a quorum might trigger public‑meeting restrictions.
No formal council votes on project approvals occurred during these updates; several items are pending further filings or court actions and will return to the council for formal action when required.
