Horse Heaven Clean Energy Center Permitting Process Moves Forward with Release of Draft Environmental Impact Statement
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Chad Thompson
901.331.0779
Horse Heaven Clean Energy Center Permitting Process Moves Forward with Release of Draft Environmental Impact Statement
Release of Draft Environmental Impact Statement Means Final Decision on Project Expected Soon
Kennewick, WA – (December 16, 2022) – Scout Clean Energy (Scout), a national utility-scale renewable energy developer-owner-operator, announced that the permitting for the Horse Heaven Clean Energy Center (HHCEC), a proposed 1,150 MW wind, solar and storage project in Washington State, continues to move forward. As the next step, the State of Washington Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC) released its Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIS) for HHCEC, initiating a series of steps that will culminate in a final decision on the project’s certification.
“Today’s Draft EIS release is an important step in the extensive review process for this project,” said Dave Kobus, Senior Project Manager for HHCEC. “The Horse Heaven Clean Energy Center will revolutionize the energy landscape in Eastern Washington, supporting the statewide transition to clean energy and providing significant local economic benefits in the form of jobs and new revenue for communities’ needs. We appreciate the work that EFSEC has put into preparing the Draft EIS and look forward to engaging in the process.”
With the release of the Draft EIS, EFSEC will hold a 45-day public comment period that will inform the development of a Final Environmental Impact Statement (Final EIS) on the project. The Final EIS is expected to be released in 2023 following formal adjudicative proceedings and deliberation by EFSEC, leading to their recommendation and final decision by the Governor on the project’s approval.
“We are currently focused on a careful and detailed review of the Draft EIS so we can provide meaningful comments to EFSEC that supports the development of a Final EIS,” said Kobus. “Our team is deeply committed to working with EFSEC, local stakeholders and the public to mitigate impacts and ensure the project is well-positioned as a good community neighbor for many years to come.”
The release of the Draft EIS follows EFSEC’s determination in May 2022 that the application to build the Horse Heaven Clean Energy center is consistent with local land use plans and zoning regulations that were in place when the project was first proposed.
Te project is expected to create nearly 1,000 jobs during construction and contribute over $250 million in new local tax revenue over its 35-year operating lifespan. A June 2022 agreement between the project developer and Tri-Cities union crafts ensures that the project will be built with union labor.
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About Scout Clean Energy
Scout Clean Energy is a renewable energy developer and owner-operator headquartered in Boulder, Colorado with approximately 1,200 MW of operating wind assets, including 400 MW managed on behalf of third parties. With a pipeline of over 22,000 MW of wind, solar and storage projects across 24 states, including almost 2,500 MW under construction or in advanced-stage development, Scout has expertise in all aspects of renewables project development, permitting, power marketing, finance, construction, 24/7 operations, and asset management. For more information, please visit www.scoutcleanenergy.com.
About the Horse Heaven Clean Energy Center
The Horse Heaven Clean Energy Center is designed to combine wind and solar generation, with battery storage components to deliver up to 1,150 MW of renewable energy to the region and the State of Washington. This hybrid approach will help stabilize grids, increase efficiencies, and lower power costs while creating significant economic opportunities in the form of jobs, development, and new revenue.
The Horse Heaven Clean Energy Center is being developed by Scout Clean Energy, a utility-scale clean energy developer with an extensive track record developing large-scale projects and is supported by local experts and project managers with deep experience in the Tri-Cities.
For more information, please visit www.horseheavencleanenergy.com
