Department of Commerce Energy and Growth Management Act Responsibilities.
The Department of Commerce (Commerce) must supervise and administer energy-related activities and advise the Governor and the Legislature on energy matters affecting the state. ?The Director of Commerce appoints an assistant director for energy policy, who runs the Energy Division within Commerce. ?Commerce's energy-related powers and duties include developing energy policy recommendations, coordinating implementation of the State Energy Strategy, and coordinating federal energy programs appropriate for state-level implementation.
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Commerce coordinates the state implementation of the Growth Management Act (GMA), which is the comprehensive land use planning framework for counties and cities in Washington. Commerce's requirements under the GMA include that Commerce must offer technical and financial assistance to cities and counties. ?Commerce must also provide alternative dispute resolution to mediate disputes and facilitate consistent implementation of the GMA.
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Clean Energy Projects.
Clean energy projects include electrical transmission facilities, clean energy product manufacturing facilities, storage facilities, facilities producing electricity from nonemitting or renewable resources except for certain hydroelectric generation facilities, and other facilities.
The Clean Energy Development Office Established in the Department of Commerce.
The Clean Energy Development Office is established in the Department of Commerce (Commerce), with the purpose of providing proactive leadership and coordination with other agencies to: (1) assemble and share information to guide and support siting of clean energy projects and electrical transmission facilities; (2) conduct planning and development functions to help achieve adequate, reliable, and affordable clean energy generation, manufacturing, and transmission; and (3) support tribes, local governments, and communities to enhance local and equitable benefits associated with clean energy projects.
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Subject to appropriation for this specific purpose, ?the Clean Energy Development Office must:
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Subject to appropriation for this specific purpose, ?the Clean Energy Development Office may:
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Commerce Support for Clean Energy Development Under the Growth Management Act.
Commerce must support local governments with integrating clean energy development?including agrivoltaics and dual-use solar and other clean energy technologies?into planning and zoning requirements. ?Commerce must provide technical assistance and ongoing liaison support to local governments, including methods and best practices for siting clean energy projects and transmission facilities, and for colocating energy facilities with agricultural operations, environmental conservation, and other uses.
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Commerce must provide alternative dispute resolution services to help local governments, tribes, and project applicants attempting to site clean energy projects or transmission facilities.? Alternative dispute resolution processes involving tribes may require unique provisions, including for confidentiality of tribal information.
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Rule-making Authority.
Commerce may write rules to carry out the purposes and provisions related to the Clean Energy Development Office and to support local governments with clean energy development under the GMA.