Council hears project updates: transfer hearings set for two solar projects, Cascade transmission scoping open, and Kittitas turbines vandalized

At its May 20 meeting the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council received routine facility updates and scheduling information for several projects across the state.

Columbia Solar and Goose Prairie Solar: Sarah Randolph, a site specialist, told the council that Columbia Solar submitted a request for transfer of ownership (cited in the packet as pursuant to WAC 46366) and that Brookfield has applied for an indirect transfer of the Goose Prairie site certificate. Staff proposed holding the informational hearings required by the relevant WAC provisions immediately after the June council meeting; hearing notices will be posted in the coming week and staff anticipate asking the council to take action on both transfer requests at the July meeting following public comment.

Council members asked staff to clarify an acronym in the transfer packet; the definition of MSA (Master Services Agreement) appears in the packet (PDF page 20) and staff clarified that the certificate holder (for example Goose Prairie Solar LLC) will remain the certificate holder while upstream ownership changes reflect higher-level corporate ownership. Council members requested a staff analysis of any risks associated with upstream ownership changes before the July decision.

Cascade Renewable Transmission Project (CRTP): Maria Welkina, the project’s assigned siting specialist, reported that the council issued a SEPA determination of significance and opened a scoping comment period through June 1. Staff have received the applicant’s responses to the first round of data requests and are reviewing materials. Staff also described ongoing coordination with state and federal agencies (including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Oregon counterparts) to align SEPA and NEPA review. Council members and staff discussed tribal-specific consultation: the council will hold a tribal scoping meeting (including confidential consultation if necessary) the same day as the public scoping meeting; the Yakama Nation and other tribes have requested additional consultation, with dates being scheduled in early July and hybrid (in-person plus virtual) options under consideration.

Cypress Creek ("Oria/Austria") Solar: John Voltz with Cypress Creek Renewables reported that site utilities are established, that the project received a permission-to-operate letter from the Bonneville Power Administration that lifted a 6 MW curtailment, and that commissioning, aerial and infrared scanning and construction demobilization have progressed. Voltz said full generation is underway and that the project is targeting commissioning completion around mid-June though final closeout items and environmental remediation could push some tasks into July.

Golden Eye battery storage and other projects: Joanne Snarkarski and other staff reported cultural-resources coordination for Golden Eye battery storage and ongoing judicial review and construction-plan coordination for Carrier Solar with the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation. Staff also reported field verification visits, wetlands delineation work and TCP coordination on other projects (Hopill, Wula Gap, Horse Heaven), with staff awaiting Ecology validation and other agency reports.

Kittitas Valley wind vandalism: Jared Cassiday of EDP Renewables reported that two turbines at the Kittitas Valley wind project were vandalized between January and April 2026 (G4 had door-lock damage; G1 had unauthorized paint marks at the base of the tower). Both turbines have been repaired and the incidents were reported to the Kittitas County Sheriff’s Department; Cassiday said the project has operated since 2010 and this is the first vandalism incident at the site.

What’s next: Staff will post informational hearing notices for the Columbia and Goose Prairie transfer requests and prepare materials for the council’s July meeting; the Cascade transmission scoping period and tribal consultations will continue through June and into July as scheduled.