Jim — Jim is identified as likely attending virtually.
Mary Dye — Diane addressed the Ranking Member as Ranking Member Dye.
Mary Dye — The chair calls on Representative Dyer/Dye to ask the next question; likely a reference to Mary Dye.
Mary Dye — Representative Dye asks why water consumption was not listed as a significant impact, especially in arid regions.
Mary Dye — Representative Dye continues her question about water impacts in arid regions.
Mary Dye — The chair asks Representative Dye if she has a follow-up question.
Mary Dye — Representative Ley references concerns previously raised by Representative Dye.
Mary Dye — Addressed as Ranking Member.
Mary Dye — Asked whether the heat map included other scenic corridors and national monuments.
Mary Dye — Addressed as Ranking Member.
Mary Dye — Asked about using hydropower capacity to firm renewable power and whether alternatives to batteries could be used.
Mary Dye — Addressed as Ranking Member.
Mary Dye — Asks whether the carryout law applies to tribal and non-tribal retailers and whether Ecology is seeing confusion.
Mary Dye — Addressed as 'Rep. Dye' in response to the compostable-bag question.
Diane Buterak — Introduced herself and began testimony for Ecology's Clean Energy Coordination section.
HB1216 — House Bill 1216 is referenced as the legislation that directed Ecology’s work, with the bill mentioned twice in the same discussion without any change in topic.
SB5161 — The speaker refers to Senate Bill 5161, noting that the legislature directed Ecology under this bill. The bill is mentioned again immediately afterward, with the number repeated in a split form, reinforcing that the discussion is about the same legislation and its directive to Ecology.
Alex Ybarra — The chair refers to Representative Ybarra as having a question; he raises concerns about permitting timelines and completeness checks.
Alex Ybarra — The response explains that completeness-review timing depends on the lead agency, usually a city or county, and that state agencies are already looking at it.
Alex Ybarra — A representative raises the statutory definition of green hydrogen and asks that it be considered when evaluating allowed hydrogen projects.
Alex Ybarra — A legislator comments that the solar disposal problem has been unresolved for many years and may not be solved soon.
Alex Ybarra — The speaker offers a cautionary comment about the timeline for resolving solar disposal issues.
Alex Ybarra — Asked about historic transmission lines and whether tribes were consulted when those lines were built.
Alex Ybarra — Raised a question about older transmission lines crossing tribal lands and whether tribes could later require relocation.
Alex Ybarra — Greeted as the representative for District 13 in Grant County.
Alex Ybarra — Representative Ybarra asks whether a solar project in Grant County’s Royal Slope area will be blocked by a Fish and Wildlife moratorium on sagebrush removal. The response clarifies that the application is actually scheduled for agency review that Friday as part of its 30-day review process.
Alex Ybarra — Representative Ybarra questioned Puget Sound Energy about its energy sources and near-term generation plans, asking whether the utility has considered alternatives to wind and solar, including natural gas with carbon sequestration.
Alex Ybarra — Likely the member being referred to as 'Revi Bara'; expected to ask a follow-up question.
Rosanna Fai — She compliments the legislation and asks a question about whether solar system disposal was considered.
John Ley — Representative John Ley raises concerns about lithium battery fire risks, emphasizing that such fires can be difficult for fire departments to control and may require letting them burn out while preventing spread. He highlights the implications for first responders and urges consideration of emergency response impacts as part of the broader discussion.
John Ley — Likely the member being referred to as 'Representative Vai'; asked about compostable plastic bags and new technology.
Amy Hofkimer — Introduced herself as Director of Siting and Compliance for FSEC.
Amy Hofkmeyer — Continued her introduction and described FSEC's role in siting and compliance.
SB5165 — SB 5165 is referenced as the legislation that directed FSEC to prepare a programmatic, non-project environmental review for high-voltage transmission facilities.
Alex Ramel — Asked a follow-up question about whether the analysis distinguishes line footprint from tower footprint in reconductoring.
Alex Ramel — Referenced by title as the member being addressed.
Alex Ramel — Was asked if he had another question.
Alex Ramel — Representative Ramel asked about the four-cent penalty fee and the administrative burden of collecting it.
Jim Anderson Cook — Jim Anderson Cook introduced himself as the director of Grant County Development Services and began discussing Grant County's ordinance for siting large-scale solar facilities.
SB5290 — Senate Bill 5290 was discussed as the Local Project Review bill governing these projects, with speakers explaining that the projects fall under its framework and must be brought before a decision maker within 170 days.
Jake Fey — Asked whether developers are well prepared and whether incomplete applications are a problem.
Stephanie Barnard — Representative Stephanie Barnard thanked the witness and asked about how SEPA siting projects coordinate with the affected tribes. She then followed up by asking for more detail on tribal coordination and requested the name of a book previously recommended about the 1855 treaty.
Stephanie Barnard — Asks about data on the $250 fine, state revenue, and whether the fine might be repealed.
Shona — Shona explained that cultural resource review is improved when consultants and archaeological firms understand both the physical landscape and how to work with the tribe, since agency staff are often too strapped for time to respond quickly. She said this kind of expertise helps get tribal input earlier and more effectively into SEPA/CEPA cultural resource review. In response to a question, she added that the tribe does not maintain a formal list of recommended firms, but has provided feedback to developers and county planning staff about which experts would be suitable for particular projects. The exchange concluded with members thanking Shona for her presentation and helpful testimony.
Representative Rammell — Asked whether the tribe recommends particular firms or experts for archaeological or cultural resources analysis and whether it has tools to recommend to developers.
Sarah — Introduced as an in-person witness after Shona's testimony.
Sarah — Thanked as the prior presenter before the plastic bags discussion began.
Sarah Leverett — Introduced herself as in-house counsel with Puget Sound Energy and Director of the Environmental Services Department, and said the conversation is important to meeting clean energy mandates.
Sarah Leverett — Thanked at the close of her testimony.
Mark Klicker — Representative Mark Klicker asked a question following the Puget Sound Energy testimony and then continued by raising concerns about electricity supply, transmission, SEPA, and CETA.