CERTIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT

SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1924

68TH LEGISLATURE

2024 REGULAR SESSION

SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1924

AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE

ByHouse Environment & Energy (originally sponsored by Representatives Shavers, Ryu, Barnard, Stearns, and Wylie)

AN ACT Relating to promoting the integration of fusion technology within state clean energy policies; amending RCW 43.158.020; adding a new section to chapter 43.21F RCW; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 43.21F RCW to read as follows:

(1) In addition to the principles guiding the development and implementation of the state energy strategy described in RCW 43.21F.088, the state must ensure that the pursuit of cleaner energy sources actively includes and supports innovative, emerging, and promising clean energy technologies, such as fusion energy.

(2) For the purposes of this section, "fusion energy" means energy production derived directly or indirectly from the merger of atomic nuclei.

(3) The legislature finds that fusion energy is a rapidly advancing clean energy technology and that Washington is poised to become a world leader in fusion energy development.

Sec. 3. RCW 43.158.020 and 2023 c 230 s 202 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The department of commerce shall develop an application for the designation of clean energy projects, including facilities that produce electricity with fusion energy, as clean energy projects of statewide significance.

(2) An application to the department of commerce by an applicant under this section must include:

(a) Information regarding the location of the project;

(b) Information sufficient to demonstrate that the project qualifies as a clean energy project;

(c) An explanation of how the project is expected to contribute to the state's achievement of the greenhouse gas emission limits in chapter 70A.45 RCW and is consistent with the state energy strategy adopted by the department of commerce, as well as any contribution that the project is expected to make to other state regulatory requirements for clean energy and greenhouse gas emissions, including the requirements of chapter 19.405, 70A.30, 70A.60, 70A.65, 70A.535, or 70A.540 RCW;

(d) An explanation of how the project is expected to contribute to the state's economic development goals, including information regarding the applicant's average employment in the state for the prior year, estimated new employment related to the project, estimated wages of employees related to the project, and estimated time schedules for completion and operation;

(e) A plan for engagement and information sharing with potentially affected federally recognized Indian tribes;

(f) A description of potential community benefits and impacts from the project, a plan for community engagement in the project development, and an explanation of how the applicant might use a community benefit agreement or other legal document that stipulates the benefits that the developer agrees to fund or furnish, in exchange for community support of a project; and

(g) Other information required by the department of commerce.

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