HEADLINES & HISTORY SINCE 1879
Goldendale, Washington
Cypress Creek faces community ZACHARY VILLAR
WEDNESDAY, MAY 3, 2023
Vol. 144 No. 18
The solar panel comes to Klickitat County
FOR THE SENTINEL
A meeting was held at the Goldendale Grange Tuesday, April 25, by the Washington State Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC) regarding the siting of a proposed solar energy project near Goldendale. The public meeting fulfilled their obligation to have such a meeting required by RCW 80.50.090 (1) and WAC 463-26-025. The meeting was regarding the Application for Site Certification (ASC) from Cyprus Creek for the Carriger Solar Project, a 160-megawatt (MW) solar photovoltaic (PV) generation facility with battery storage located in unincorporated Klickitat County that was received by EFSEC on February 10. The meeting began with a onehour open house in which representatives from EFSEC and Cyprus Creek were available to speak with the public. This was followed by presentations from EFSEC and Cyprus Creek, then there was a public comment period. EFSEC Director of Siting and Compliance Ami Hafkemeyer gave a short presentation on the EFSEC siting process. It began with a history of the agency. “EFSEC was created in 1970 for the siting of thermal power plants. The intent was to create a onestop permitting agency for large energy facilities. EFSEC is comprised of state and local government members who review each application before voting to make a council recommendation to the governor. If approval is recommended, the package to the governor would include a draft site certification agreement or SCA, which defines all preconstruction, construction, and operation plans. If approved by the governor’s office, the decision preempts other state or local regulations.” Hafkemeyer spoke about the kinds of “energy generation facilities” that fall under EFSEC jurisdiction and those that can opt in. She listed the members of different state-level agencies that comprise EFSEC. She said the agencies had not appointed a council member for the review of the Carriger Solar Project. Klickitat County, also able to appoint a council member for the review of an application, has appointed Matthew Chiles, who was present at the meeting. On the slideshow that accompanied the presentation, Hafkemeyer presented a map of the facilities that are certificated or have applied for certification under EFSEC’s jurisdiction. The map showed six operating facilities, including two natural gas facil-
Mayor will not run for reelection FERC public hearing today on pumped energy project RODGER NICHOLS FOR THE SENTINEL
ABOVE: ZACHARY VILLAR. RIGHT: GENE CALLAN.
THE SOLAR PANEL: Above, left to right, Justin Krueger, John Hanks, Lauren Altick, and Tai Wallace of Cypress Creek Renewables listen to comments from the community at a meeting in Goldendale last Tuesday. Right, architect Gene Callan created this overlay map to give a rough idea of the proposed spread of solar projects around Klickitat County. ities, one nuclear facility, one solar facility, and two wind facilities. It includes four additional facilities that are approved but have yet to begin construction, consisting of two wind and two solar facilities. Hafkemeyer then presented a flow chart showing the process for applying for EFSEC recommendation. “For every project proposed, a SEPA (State Environmental Policy Act) review is performed. When a determination of significance and a decision to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement or EIS is made, public comments are taken on the scope of the EIS. After public comment for scoping, the SEPA responsible official determines the scope of the EIS, a draft EIS is prepared and issued with a minimum 30day public comment period, after which the final EIS is prepared and released.” A Determination of Significance (DS) is issued if a proposal is found to have probable significant adverse environmental impacts that cannot be mitigated. This was not explained by Hafkemeyer.
“In some instances, a Determination of Non-significance, a DNS, or Mitigated Determination of Non-significance, MDNS, is issued,” continued Hafkemeyer. “If the SEPA responsible official determines that a project meets the criteria of the DNS or MDNS, an EIS is not required.” There is a minimum 15-day comment period for an MDNS, and a DNS requires no comment period. Hafkemeyer then talked briefly about the expedited siting process that has been requested for the Carriger Proposal. “To be considered for expedited processing an applicant must make the request in writing and the project must meet two criteria. First, it must be determined to be consistent with local land use ordinances and codes. Second, the SEPA determination must be that of a DNS or MDNS. In this expedited process, the adjudication step is not required and a full EIS is not developed. The council prepares their recommendation to the governor in an expedited timeframe under this process.” Hafkemeyer
said that EFSEC is the issuing agency for any applicable environmental permits that a facility may require, including water quality and air quality. The SEPA review has not yet determined whether an EIS will be required for this project. After the EFSEC council has concluded their review of the application, it is recommended to the governor, who has a 60-day window to approve or reject the application or remand it back to the council. A rejection by the governor is a final decision for the application. “If an application is approved by the governor, EFSEC then has oversight of the environmental compliance for the life of the facility through decommissioning,” continued Hafkemeyer. “EFSEC has standing contracts with applicable state agencies that assist in the monitoring and enforcement of conditions either in the site certification agreement, identified permits, or EIS or MNDS. EFESEC’s enforcement authority
See Solar page A8
GMS Drama Class offers ‘Harry Rings’ The Goldendale Middle School Drama Class will be performing Friday, May 5, at 6:30 p.m. in the GMS cafeteria. Their play is called Harry Rings, Lord of the Potters. It’s a parody of both Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings in which Harry is a wizard at Hogwash School, and there’s a “hoblin” (combination hobbit and goblin) named Mojo. The public is invited to come out and enjoy the show while supporting all of the hard work these students have put in. Teacher Stephanie Garner produced the show and coached the students. The kids in the play are: Mia Alvarado, Kylee Baunach, Carly Beasley, Sierra Blunt, Jessalynn Brown, CJ Casteel, Aleah Childers, Kenny Clark, Charlie Collins, Daniel Davis, Natalia Ensey, Olivia Gonzalez, Timothy Hauck, Isaiah Lahmann, Paislee Lavallie, Ayreana Lucas, Harrison Richelderfer, Bailey Roberston, Ali Smith, Ashton Spiekerman, Kennedie Transue, Leahna Vargas, Natalie Villa, Maddison Wilson, and Aidan Worley.
$1.00
CONTRIBUTED
WHEN WORLDS COMBINE: The Goldendale Middle School Drama Class performs this Friday at 6:30 p.m. in the Middle School cafeteria. They’re doing “Harry Rings, Lord of the Potters,” a clever parody of the Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings stories.
Goldendale Mayor Mike Canon had a surprise announcement at the city council meeting Monday night. “I think this is the best time to announce it to everybody, rather than just one or two people,” he said, “but I will not stand for re-election at the end of this year. My term is over in 2023, and I don’t intend to stand for re-election again.” In making the announcement, the mayor cited age and health as his reasons for stepping down at the end of the year. It was a timely announcement because there is a narrow window for candidates to file for office, and that week begins May 15 and ends May 19. Councilor Ellie Casey also mentioned the candidate filing week, noting there were three council positions up for this election. “A lot of times on Facebook there’s a lot of negativity about what we do and don’t do,” she said to the public at large, “and I would challenge you to file for a position.” In other changes, Police Chief Jay Hunziker, who announced his retirement at the end of May after 25 years with the city last month, added that Monday’s meeting was his last appearance before the council. He will be taking unused vacation time prior to stepping down and said one of his sergeants will sit in at the next council meeting. In other business, councilors heard an update on restarting a process to establish a tax increment financing district. A rep-
See City page A8
Presby opens, welcomes volunteers
Do you enjoy reading about the history of Klickitat County? Do you look forward to opening The Goldendale Sentinel each week to the Attic page and browsing through tidbits of the past in our area? If so, you might want to consider joining the group of volunteers at the Presby House Museum and Klickitat County Historical Society (KCHS) who share your love of learning more about the founders and settlers of our county’s communities and the lives they lived. The Presby House’s doors were unlocked for its 62nd annual opening on Tuesday, May 2. Many of the last-minute details of painting, electrical, and carpentry have taken place to spruce things up in preparation to greet the public. This is an old house, celebrating its 120th year standing, and as old houses do, it requires constant and meticulous upkeep. James Radcliffe, president of the board, is vigilant in keeping track of needed repairs and updates and making sure those repairs and updates are properly completed. It takes many people to sustain the pristine condition of this county treasure. Each member of the board and the volunteers are diligent to do their part in the work it takes to assure the history housed here lives on. As soon as you enter the Presby House Museum, it is
See Presby page A8