HEADLINES & HISTORY SINCE 1879 Goldendale, Washington
WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2025
Vol. 146 No. 20
$1.00
What EFSEC is and what it does
CONTRIBUTED: KARL HOLAPPA
POINTLESS PUBLIC COMMENT?: At a meeting last Monday evening at the Goldendale Grange, the Washington Energy Facility Evaluation Site Council (EFSEC) offfered time for public comment–after it had already decided to expedite processing of a proposed solar project.
EFSEC expedites Carriger solar process before public comment RODGER NICHOLS FOR THE SENTINEL Klickitat County residents continue to wonder what the Washington State Energy Facility Siting Evaluation Council (EFSEC) was thinking. Last Monday night the agency took the trouble to come the 224 miles from their regular meeting spot in Lacey for a special meeting at the Goldendale Grange. The ostensible purpose of bringing such a meeting to the area was to solicit input from local residents who would be affect-
ed by the agency’s final decision regarding a proposed solar project pretty much in Goldendale’s back yard. That’s not what happened last week. EFSEC held its business meeting and voted to expedite the permitting process for the controversial Carriger solar farm and to skip an environmental study and a formal hearing requested by the Yakama Nation. It was only then, after their vote, that they offered local residents the opportunity to testify about the project. This was not a mistake or fluke.
The actual agenda posted in advance of the meeting shows this sequence of events was deliberately planned from the beginning. It’s no surprise that everyone who did testify was opposed to that solar project. This only adds to the frustration local opponents have had since EFSEC said it did not have to obey a moratorium on new solar projects passed by the county commission a month before the formal Carriger application was
See Comment page A8
County Jail puts in a Narcan dispensing machine RODGER NICHOLS FOR THE SENTINEL Klickitat County Commissioner Todd Andrews may be a newcomer to politics, but he apparently has a firm grasp of edgy political theater. According to a bylined article by Don Jenkins in the Capital Press, Andrews showed up at the Goldendale Grange Hall Monday, May 5, with a trash can. He was there for a special meeting of the
Washington Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC) on the Cypress Creek Renewables’ Carriger solar farm application. “Klickitat County County Commissioner Todd Andrews set a trash can by the lectern and said he was ‘about to throw up,’” the article said. It added that he told the EFSEC board that county residents are not opposed to any development, but the proposed installation is so large it would be visible all over
east Klickitat County “You couldn’t pick a better site if you wanted to be the most intrusive and lower the most home values that you could,” he said, according to the article. Andrew’s frustration stems from the fact the county had passed a moratorium on large solar projects just a month before Cypress Creek applied for their EFSEC permit. EFSEC ruled the county moratorium wasn’t a land-
See Jail page A8
LOU MARZELES EDITOR As Washington State accelerates its transition to renewable energy, the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC) stands as something of a sentinel. Some say it’s clunky, arbitrary, and inefficient. Some say it’s critical to effective evaluation of energy needs and their locations. Here’s an overview of the council and what it does. Established in 1970, EFSEC was a legislative response to the burgeoning demand for nuclear energy in the 1960s. The council was designed to centralize the evaluation and siting process for major energy facilities, streamlining what was previously a fragmented system involving multiple state and local agencies . EFSEC operates as a standalone agency within Washington State’s government. The council is chaired by an appointee of the governor, with the appointment requiring Senate confirmation. The chair serves a term concurrent with the governor’s and is responsible for overseeing the council’s activities. The council’s membership includes directors or designees from key state agencies: • Department of Ecology • Department of Fish and Wildlife • Department of Commerce • Utilities and Transportation Commission • Department of Natural Resources Additionally, agencies such as the Departments of Agriculture, Health, Transportation, and the Military Department may participate as voting members at their discretion. Local governments, including counties and cities where a proposed facility would be located, appoint representatives to the council for matters concerning their jurisdictions. EFSEC’s primary role is to provide a “one-stop” siting process for major energy facilities in Washington. This includes coordinating all evaluation and licensing steps, specifying conditions for construction and operation, and issuing a Site Certification Agreement (SCA) that supersedes other state and local permits. The council’s statutory powers, as outlined in RCW 80.50.040, encompass:
• Adopting and amending rules and regulations • Developing environmental and ecological guidelines • Conducting public hearings • Prescribing application procedures for site certification • Investigating applications and preparing recommendations for the governor • Monitoring compliance with certification terms EFSEC also has the authority to impose penalties for violations of site certification agreements, with fines reaching up to $10,000 per day for each violation. When a developer proposes a major energy facility, they can submit an application to EFSEC. The council then initiates a comprehensive review process, which includes: 1. Application Review: Assessing the completeness and adequacy of the application. 2. Environmental Impact Statement (EIS): Conducting or overseeing the preparation of an EIS to evaluate potential environmental effects. 3. Public Hearings: Holding hearings to gather input from stakeholders, including local communities, tribes, and other interested parties. 4. Recommendation to the Governor: After thorough evaluation, EFSEC submits a recommendation to the Governor, who makes the final decision on site certification. This process is designed to be completed within 12 months, although extensions can be granted with mutual agreement between the applicant and EFSEC. EFSEC has been actively involved in reviewing several significant energy projects across the state. Horse Heaven Wind Farm: This proposed project aims to generate up to 1,150 megawatts of renewable energy through a combination of wind turbines, solar panels, and battery storage systems. EFSEC has conducted multiple public hearings and is currently reviewing the final Environmental Impact Statement. Carriger Solar Project: Located in Klickitat County, this solar project has recently been granted expedited processing by EFSEC, stirring sharp controversy in the surrounding community where many see the move as exploitative, especially after a recent community meeting.
See EFSEC page A8
LOU MARZELES
MUSIC IN THE LANDSCAPE: Pianist Hunter Noack opened his 2025 In a Landscape concert series Saturday evening on the grounds of Maryhill Museum. A sold-out crowd was scattered around the flatbed trailer where his piano was situated. Headphones allowed all to hear pristine sound wherever people sat or walked. It was the kind of day when locals remark, “It was so windy, there were whitecaps on the mud puddles.” The sharp wind did not dampen enthusiasm. Noack engaged his audience frequently, inviting feedback on what pieces to play.
JORDAN MAYBERRY
WALKING FOR LIFE: Saturday a group of committed citizens did the Pregnancy Resource Center’s annual Walk for Life.