Citing concerns about student safety and emergency preparedness, the Snoqualmie Valley School District Board of Directors has formally called on King County to expand its environmental review of a proposed utility-scale battery storage project near Cascade View Elementary School.
The resolution asks King County to ensure that environmental review evaluates potential impacts on student and staff safety, district facilities, and school transportation, including bus routes, special education transportation, parent pickup and drop-off, and pedestrian and bicycle routes. It also calls for analysis of emergency procedures such as evacuation, shelter-in-place planning, family reunification, and continuity of school operations.
The district cited the project’s proximity to Cascade View Elementary School and school bus routes using Snoqualmie Parkway as specific concerns. The proposed Cascadia Ridge Resiliency Project, put forward by Jupiter Power LLC, would be an approximately 130 MW utility-scale battery energy storage system on roughly 45 acres of unincorporated King County land adjacent to the City of Snoqualmie.
Board members emphasized that the request is based on the district’s responsibility for student safety and operations, not a position on battery storage technology or on whether the project should ultimately be approved or denied.
In addition to broadening the scope of review beyond the immediate project site, the resolution requests that the district be included as a consulted agency throughout the SEPA and permitting process. It also calls for coordination with Eastside Fire and Rescue, the Snoqualmie Fire Department, King County Emergency Management, and other local agencies on emergency preparedness planning if the project moves forward.
The resolution directs the Superintendent or designee to participate in environmental review and submit comments on the district’s behalf. It also directs transmittal of the resolution to the King County Department of Local Services Permitting Division, King County elected officials, the City of Snoqualmie, relevant fire and emergency response agencies, Puget Sound Energy, and Jupiter Power LLC.
