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Planner: draft EIS outline complete; public scoping yielded 17 comments
Summary
County planner Ellie Myers told commissioners the Clean Energy Siting Permitting (CESP) project has three identified alternatives, a completed draft EIS outline and framing questions, and that the scoping period produced 17 written comments and multiple public events this spring.
Kittitas County staff updated the board June 22 on progress for the 2026 Clean Energy Siting Permitting (CESP) project, saying the county and consultant Kimley‑Horn have identified three siting alternatives and completed a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) outline.
Planner Ellie Myers told commissioners the EIS scoping comment period ran April 16–May 18 and that staff received 17 written comments. Staff also held three scoping events this spring: two events on May 2 (one in upper county and one in lower county) and a third in Easton. According to the presentation record, staff reported roughly 80 attendees at one May 2 event and about 20 attendees at the Easton event.
Myers summarized public feedback directed staff to prioritize certain energy types and to update overlay areas for solar and wind. Participants raised concerns about siting on agricultural land and open range and expressed support for geothermal energy. Myers also said there was “a lot [of] positive interactions towards the small scale nuclear” at events but that the written comments submitted did not reflect strong support for nuclear projects.
Myers outlined next steps: staff will convene stakeholder and tribal meetings in summer 2026, continue work on the draft EIS this fall and issue the draft EIS in the fall followed by additional public comment periods and open houses.
The board did not take action on policy at the study session; the presentation provided a status update and described planned public outreach and EIS milestones.
