Department of Natural Resources.
The Department of Natural Resources (DNR), through the appointed State Geologist, is responsible for maintaining the Washington Geological Survey (Survey). The Survey includes examination of economic products, soils, water resources, and road building materials; and preparation of geological and economic maps. The Survey must assess and map volcanic, seismic, landslide, and tsunami hazards in Washington.
According to the DNR, subsurface geology is the study of physical properties and location of rock and soil found below the ground surface.
In 2020 the Legislature updated statewide greenhouse gas emissions reduction limits to 45 percent below 1990 levels by 2030, 70 percent below 1990 levels by 2040, and 95 percent below 1990 levels, as well as net zero emissions, by 2050.
Interagency Clean Energy Siting Coordinating Council.
The Interagency Clean Energy Siting Coordinating Council (Council) is cochaired and costaffed by the Department of Ecology and the Department of Commerce. The Council's responsibilities include, among others:
Washington Geological Survey.
The Washington Geological Survey (Survey) must compile and maintain a comprehensive database of Washington subsurface geologic information. The Survey must make the database available to the public in a searchable format via the Survey's website. The subsurface geologic information must include, but is not limited to: temperature gradient logs, geothermal well records, high resolution magnetotelluric surveys, geothermal play fairway studies, three-dimensional reflection seismic surveys, and rock properties databases.
The Survey must also:
State-Owned Land Lease Rates.
The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) must begin rulemaking to update its geothermal resources lease rates by September 30, 2024, to be competitive with geothermal lease rates adopted by the federal government and other western states. The stated goal of the updated lease rates is to optimize attracting geothermal exploration and development projects while balancing the state's obligation to trust beneficiaries and not adversely impacting the rights of federally recognized Indian tribes.
Competitive Geothermal Exploration Cost-Share Grant Program.
Subject to the amounts appropriated, the Department of Commerce (Commerce) must establish a competitive geothermal exploration cost-share grant program (grant program) to incentivize and offset direct costs associated with deep exploratory drilling to identify Washington locations suitable for the development of geothermal energy.
Commerce must consult with the Survey to develop a method and criteria for allocation of grants. The method and criteria for the allocation of grants are subject to the following requirements, among others:
Grant awards must be available to private, public, and federally recognized tribal applicants. Grant awards to private grant applicants should be for no more than one-half of the overall cost of the project and grant awards to public grant applicants should be for no more than two-thirds of the overall cost of the project.
Commerce must make a reasonable effort to utilize the United States Department of Energy's recommendations and guidelines for geothermal demonstration projects in the western states when administering the grant program.
Geothermal Resources Collaborative Process.
Ecology, in consultation with Commerce, the DNR, the Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (DAHP), and the Department of Fish and Wildlife, must engage in a collaborative process to identify opportunities and risks associated with the development of geothermal resources in three locations with the highest geothermal potential in Washington. The DNR must identify the three locations.
As part of the collaborative process, Ecology must engage in meaningful government-to-government consultation with potentially affected federally recognized Indian tribes by learning from each participating tribe about their communication protocols for consultation, and must seek participation from the DAHP; other state agencies as appropriate; local governments; state research institutions; the electrical generation, transmission, and distribution sector; and environmental organizations. At the request of potentially affected federally recognized Indian tribes, Ecology may include additional participation with independent subject matter expertise.
Subject to the amounts appropriated, Ecology must provide grants to potentially affected federally recognized Indian tribes to provide capacity and to support their evaluation of the impacts of geothermal electricity development and to support participation in the collaborative process.
At a minimum, the collaborative process must address the following topics:
Ecology must begin the geothermal resources collaborative process by November 30, 2024. Ecology must provide to the Legislature an update on the status of the collaborative process by June 30, 2026, and must provide a final report on the collaborative process by June 30, 2027.
The Interagency Clean Energy Siting Coordinating Council (Council) must support Ecology during the collaborative process. The Council must consider the findings of the interim update and final report and make recommendations to the Legislature and the Governor on potential actions regarding the development of geothermal energy. Based on the findings of the collaborative process, the Council must identify key factors for consideration in planning and siting of geothermal facilities. These key factors include, but are not limited to, geologic suitability, water resource impacts, impacts to the rights of federally recognized Indian tribes, and proximity to electrical transmission and distribution infrastructure.
The striking amendment adopted by the Environment and Energy Committee makes the following changes to the underlying bill:
(In support) Iceland was one of the poorest nations in the world after World War II, so they embarked on a journey to create a geothermal network that provides hot water, heat, and electricity to the entire country. One public utility district is working on exploring geothermal resources around Mount Baker. This bill is narrowly tailored around three promising areas in the state for geothermal. There is a robust collaborative and consultation process with Washington tribes. Geothermal represents a great way to produce clean, baseload energy.
High quality information about the subsurface is fundamental to geothermal characterization in Washington. This information can be expensive to collect, and often represents a barrier to entering into geothermal production. A single collection point will make this information much more readily available.
Sections 3 and 4 of the bill provide additional tools to jumpstart geothermal development. Geothermal resources are available throughout the state, including Southwest Washington and Central Washington. Geothermal resources development allows the state to add clean, baseload power to the state.
Last month's cold snap in Washington showed how short the Pacific Northwest is on electricity. The Pacific Northwest imported an average of 6000 megawatts per hour during that period, and as a result spent about $300 million more than usual for power during that period. The state needs more in-state generation of power. Geothermal can help address this deficit.
(Opposed) None.
Senator Liz Lovelett, prime sponsor; Casey Hanell, Department of Natural Resources; Tim Gates, Department of Ecology; Scott Hazlegrove, Whatcom Public Utility District; and Nicolas Garcia, Washington Public Utility District Association.
No new changes were recommended.
(In support) Those who have had a chance to visit Iceland may know that geothermal energy is distributed throughout that country. Iceland was a poor nation around the time of World War II because they had to import nearly all of their fuel. Now Iceland is one of the wealthiest nations in Europe and their geothermal independence is a major factor in that wealth. This policy supports the development of geothermal energy across the state and complements funding in the proposed House capital budget. The bill creates a set of tools that helps move the state forward with finding potential new resources to meet the growing electricity demand.
(Opposed) None.
Senator Liz Lovelett, prime sponsor; and Scott Hazlegrove, Whatcom Public Utility District.