SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6578

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

As of February 6, 2020

Title: An act relating to designating pumped storage projects located in a county bordering the Columbia river utilizing statutorily authorized water rights to be projects of statewide significance.

Brief Description: Designating pumped storage projects located in a county bordering the Columbia river utilizing statutorily authorized water rights to be projects of statewide significance.

Sponsors: Senators Honeyford, Van De Wege, King and Takko.

Committee Activity: Agriculture, Water, Natural Resources & Parks: 2/04/20.

Brief Summary of Bill

Expands the definition of "project of statewide significance" to include a pumped storage project using water rights approved by the Legislature for that purpose.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, WATER, NATURAL RESOURCES & PARKS

Staff: Karen Epps (786-7424)

Background: Projects of Statewide Significance. Projects of statewide significance may be designated as such to expedite their completion. To qualify for the designation, a project must meet capital investment or job creation requirements. Border-crossing projects; private projects investing in manufacturing, research, and development; projects that will provide a net environmental benefit; and a project that will further commercialization of an innovation may all be designated as projects of statewide significance. An application for the designation must be submitted to the Department of Commerce. The application must include an approval letter from jurisdictions where a project is located and must commit to providing the local staff necessary to expedite completing a project.

In 2017, the Legislature amended this process to allow the Legislature to designate a project of statewide significance.

Pumped Storage Generating Facilities. Pumped storage generating facilities move water between two reservoirs located at different elevations to store energy and generate electricity. When electricity demand is low, excess electric generation capacity is used to pump water from the lower reservoir to the upper reservoir. When electricity demand is high, the stored water is released from the upper reservoir to the lower reservoir through a turbine to generate electricity.

In 2012, the Legislature authorized any public utility district (PUD) bordered by the Columbia River to supply water to any entity that sells electric energy or water to the public for use in a pumped storage generating facility. To qualify, the PUD must have obtained a water right from an industrial user and hold the water right for which power generation is an authorized purpose prior to June 7, 2012. Water supplied to an entity for use in a pumped storage generating facility must be supplied consistent with a contract that contains the terms and conditions deemed appropriate by the commission of the qualifying PUD. Contracts must be made pursuant to a resolution of the commission that is introduced at a meeting of the commission at least ten days prior to the date of the adoption of the resolution.

Licenses for the siting and operation of pumped storage generating facilities are under the jurisdiction of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). As of September 1, 2019, FERC has issued preliminary permits for two pumped storage projects located in Washington.

Summary of Bill: The definition of project of statewide significance is amended to include a pumped storage project using water rights approved by the Legislature for that purpose.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on February 1, 2020.

Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: In 2012, the Legislature approved water rights for use in this pump storage project and those water rights are still held by Klickitat PUD in trust until this project utilizes those water rights. This bill will help this project by coordinating the communication between all the jurisdictions that will be involved in permitting agreements, property purchases, and cleanup plans under the Office of Regulatory Assistance. This designation is not an attempt to short circuit any permitting requirement. Designating this pump storage project as a project of statewide significance is supported by the county and the county recently passed a resolution in support of this project. The county commits to entering into an agreement with the Office of Regulatory Assistance and the project managers as may be appropriate. The project will provide construction jobs and then permanent jobs when the project is finished and will enable the integration of additional intermittent renewable resources which will spur more tax benefits. This project is real economic development in a rural county. The fully built pump storage project would be contributing about $700,000 a year to the Library District, as well as contributing to the county general fund. This pump storage project will be the first built in the country to serve the renewable energy needs of the intermittency of solar and wind energy. This bill allows the parties to work through potentials concerns in a responsible way. These pump storage facilities provide great family wage construction jobs, apprenticeship opportunities, and advancement on the environmental front.

CON: The Yakama Nation has reserved rights to access usual and accustomed fishing stations as well as gather and hunt on open and unclaimed land. The Yakama Nation is opposed to this bill and the pumped storage project. There are several things tied to this including impacts to cultural and sacred resources, and archaeological, ceremonial, burial, petroglyph, monumental and ancestral use sites in this area. The reservoir will be built on a contaminated site but the addition of a reservoir on top of a contaminated site would only exacerbate the situation. This project is another example of energy development that comes at a cost to the Yakama Nation.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator Jim Honeyford, Prime Sponsor; Dave Sauter, Klickitat County Commission; Dana Peck, Goldendale Chamber of Commerce; Mark Riker, Washington State Building and Construction Trades Council; Dave Warren, National Grid, Klickitat PUD. CON: Paul Ward, Yakama Nation Fisheries Manager.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.