Governor fast tracks solar farm approval

WALLA WALLA — The Goose Prairie Solar project near Moxee was approved by Gov. Jay Inslee.

Inslee signed the Site Certification Agreement, agreeing with the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council’s recommendation to allow project construction, according to a state spokesperson.

The Site Certification Agreement allows OneEnergy Renewables to construct and operate an 80 megawatt solar powered generation facility in Yakima County.

The facility will use solar photovoltaic panels to convert energy from the sun into electric power. The panels are to tilt throughout the day to follow the sun and maximizing energy output.

The Council’s received 22 public comments on the project application.

In January 2021, OneEnergy Renewables requested expedited processing of permits, which the council granted after determining that the site would not have a probable significant adverse impact on the environment.

In October, the council completed its application review and submitted a recommendation to the governor, finding that it would contribute to the needed availability of renewable energy at a reasonable cost.

On Dec. 20, Inslee approved the recommendation and signed a Site Certification Agreement, allowing OneEnergy Renewables to move forward with the Goose Prairie Solar Project.

The Site Certification Agreement is an agreement between the State of Washington and OneEnergy Renewables, outlining how the company may construct and operate the facility, including mitigation efforts it is required and agreed to undertake.

EFSEC is the state agency charged with providing one-stop permitting for certain types of major energy projects in Washington. EFSEC specifies the conditions of construction and operation. The council also manages an environmental and safety oversight program of facility and site operations.