The Washington State Department of Ecology is seeking public input as it begins a statewide environmental study of utility-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS).
Ecology is preparing a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) to evaluate potential environmental impacts from BESS facilities and identify ways those impacts could be avoided, reduced or mitigated. The current “scoping” period gives the public an opportunity to provide input on what issues should be studied.
Battery energy storage systems use large rechargeable batteries to store excess electricity and release it during periods of high demand or when power generation slows. They can also store excess energy generated by wind and solar projects.
This is a statewide study and is separate from the EFSEC review of the proposed Cascadia Ridge BESS project near Snoqualmie. However, given the proposed project’s move to the state siting process, the City is sharing this opportunity for Snoqualmie residents who wish to provide input on the broader environmental issues associated with BESS facilities.
Ecology’s 2025 studies of batteries located with solar or wind facilities identified potential concerns, including hazardous air-emission risks for emergency responders if a battery is damaged or fails, higher noise, increased wildfire danger and limited access for fire response in remote locations. The new study is of stand-alone, utility-scale battery storage and will not review specific projects.
Public comments will be accepted through October 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PT. Ecology will also hold virtual public meetings on September 15 at 9 a.m. and September 23 at 1 p.m.
Ecology plans to release a draft of the study by June 30, 2027, followed by another public review and comment period. The final document is expected in 2028.
Learn more, review the scoping document and submit comments through the Washington State Department of Ecology’s BESS public comment page: https://ecology.wa.gov/regulations-permits/sepa/clean-energy/programmatic-eis/battery-storage
[Information and image provided by the City of Snoqualmie and the Washington State Department of Ecology]
