Tag Archives: energy

Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick/CREDIT: Washington State Legislature

Boehnke bill to expand renewable energy clears key House committee

Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick/Credit: Washington State Senate

OLYMPIA… Legislation from Sen. Matt Boehnke that would expand renewable-energy development while balancing environmental regulations and land-use policies is moving closer to a final vote in the House of Representatives.

Senate Bill 5445 would promote distributed-energy projects and support “agrivoltaics,” meaning agricultural production underneath or adjacent to solar panels. It received unanimous approval from the House Environment and Energy Committee and now awaits placement on the voting calendar.

“Expanding distributed-energy projects is a win-win for our district,” said Boehnke, R-Kennewick. “This bill makes it easier to develop renewable energy while protecting farmland and supporting rural communities. By cutting red tape and allowing all energy options to coexist with agriculture, we’re ensuring that farmers can benefit from clean energy without jeopardizing their land-use status or tax benefits. This is smart policy that would strengthen both our economy and our energy future.”

SB 5445 also would encourage the growth of clean energy, enhance the state’s energy independence, reduce carbon emissions, and create economic opportunities in rural communities.

“This bill strikes the right balance between environmental responsibility and economic growth,” Boehnke said. “By streamlining regulations for renewable-energy projects and providing utilities with more flexibility in meeting clean-energy targets, we’re paving the way for a stronger, more resilient energy grid. This approach not only reduces our carbon footprint but also stimulates investment in rural areas, creating jobs and new opportunities for both landowners and businesses alike.”

Boehnke expects the bill to reach the House floor for a vote before the April 16 deadline for action on bills passed by the Senate.

Boehnke bill seeks to free Washington from California vehicle emissions rules

Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick/Credit: Washington State Senate

OLYMPIA…Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick, the new Republican leader on the Senate Environment, Energy and Technology Committee, has introduced a bill ahead of the 2025 legislative session that aims to separate Washington from California’s vehicle-emission standards.

Senate Bill 5091 would direct the state Department of Ecology to adopt rules that align with federal standards rather than California’s. Should the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency waiver that allows California’s emissions standards to depart from federal standards be reversed, the proposal is expected to receive attention in Olympia.

Boehnke’s bill also requires Ecology to submit yearly reports on Washington’s progress toward reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

“Year after year lawmakers have tried in vain to get Ecology to track the state’s GHG emissions better,” Boehnke explained. “The public deserves to know, to determine if the programs meant to reduce emissions are actually working.”

The system requires reporting every two years, but Ecology has fallen behind and only has data up through 2019. Supposedly, Boehnke said, data through 2021 will be made available by the end of 2024.

“Whether the data is five years old or just three years behind, that isn’t good enough if we are to assess the effectiveness of programs like the Climate Commitment Act.,” he explained.

Boehnke noted that SB 5091 does not change the state’s GHG targets but would simply hold the state more accountable for its progress toward those targets.

Under the federal Clean Air Act, the federal government sets vehicle emissions standards, but California is allowed to differ, and states may choose to follow California’s rules. Washington is one of several that has.

Boehnke said the incoming presidential administration is widely expected to rescind the waiver recently granted to California waivers. Washington law still requires DOE rules to match California. If SB 5091 passes, this will change, and Washington will follow the federal rules.

Boehnke expects his bill to be considered by the Senate ENET committee. The 105-day legislative session is scheduled to start Jan. 13 and end April 27.

AUDIO: A new bill seeks to separate Washington from California’s vehicle-emission standards while enhancing emissions reporting. Tracy Ellis explains. #waleg

LISTEN: https://ow.ly/hFvE50Uvvnq

Boehnke to lead Republicans on Senate energy committee

Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick/Credit: Washington State Senate

OLYMPIA … Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick, has been elevated to Ranking Member on the Senate Environment, Energy, and Technology Committee (ENET) for the 2025 legislative session.

He will continue on the Senate Ways and Means Committee and is joining the Senate Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee as well as the powerful Rules Committee.

Boehnke, who served on the ENET committee during the Legislature’s 2023-24 term, said he is honored to move up to the committee’s top Republican position.

“The work of the ENET committee lines up well with the 8th District’s interests. I am particularly focused on pursuing advances in nuclear power, hydrogen, and emergency technologies that support grid reliability, energy supply, and energy conservation, as those are important not only here but statewide,” said Boehnke.

“Having a larger role on this committee will also help me in reaching across the aisle and collaborating with the chair and the majority party to address the serious issues impacting our state.”

As a member of Ways and Means, Boehnke will be involved in developing the next state budget, and with the WSU Tri-Cities campus in his district, the new higher-education assignment is a good fit.

The Rules Committee serves as a gatekeeper, determining which of the bills approved at the committee level will be eligible for consideration by the full Senate.

More information about Boehnke is at mattboehnke.src.wastateleg.org. The 2025 Legislative Session begins Jan. 13, 2024,

Boehnke looks to improve rules for siting of power plants

Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick

OLYMPIA… The state Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC) held a special meeting on September 13 to approve the revised site certification agreement for the controversial Horse Heaven Wind Project.

Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick, believes the EFSEC’s process to approve the revised site certification agreement (SCA) did not properly account for local concerns and gave the governor too much decision-making power. To correct this, Boehnke plans to introduce a bill for the 2025 legislative session that improves the energy facility site evaluation process by removing the governor from the final stages of approval.

The EFSEC initially recommended project approval with mitigation measures for ferruginous hawk habitat, among other requirements. Gov. Jay Inslee rejected the original proposal and asked the council to reconsider mitigation measures allowing for a larger facility with more turbines. On Friday, the EFSEC sided with Inslee and approved the revised agreement.

“I’ve heard from many Tri-Citians who have concerns about disrupting the habitat of the endangered ferruginous hawk, impeding on lands held sacred by Native Americans, and altering the skyline and scenic beauty of the Horse Heaven area,” Boehnke said. “The EFSEC heard these concerns and agreed to a smaller-scale project and has now reversed course, based on the governor’s request. The concerns of the local community were not heard.”

Boehnke’s proposed legislation will be filed before the 2025 legislative session begins Jan. 13.

The revised SCA for the Horse Heaven Hills project now includes conditions for habitat improvements, changes to mitigation measures that address the impact to ferruginous hawks and creates more safety measures for aerial firefighters when wildland fires are active.

Still, local community members disagree about the effectiveness of the EFSEC’s revisions. And some issues, such as the project’s visual impact on the Tri-Cities community, remain unaddressed.

The amended SCA has been resubmitted to the governor, who will have 60 days to approve or reject the resubmission. If approved, the certification will become binding once the governor and the applicant execute it.

“The governor is a political official and should not be part of this process,” Boehnke said. “I believe the EFSEC is better positioned than the governor – any governor – to review proposed projects objectively. If the bill I will file becomes law, EFSEC would have the final say on project approval and mitigation measures. The governor would not.

“My bill will improve the process based on lessons learned from the Horse Heaven project. It’s prospective in its application and does not interfere with any specific project, including Horse Heaven.”

Information and documents regarding this project can be found at www.efsec.wa.gov/energy-facilities/horse-heaven-wind-project. The revised SCA submitted to the governor is available on the EFSEC website at www.efsec.wa.gov/energy-facilities/horse-heaven-wind-project/horse-heaven-recommendation-and-governors-decision.

BOEHNKE RADIO INTERVIEW

New energy grid storage receives federal and state funding

On August 13, I had the honor of joining fellow federal and state lawmakers and representatives from the Department of Energy, Ecology, and Commerce for a ribbon-cutting ceremony of the $75 million Grid Storage Launchpad at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory’s (PNNL) north Richland campus. This momentous occasion marks a significant milestone, as the Department of Energy has selected PNNL to serve as the nation’s hub for advancing energy storage solutions in batteries for the electrical grid.

PNNL is the perfect choice for this pioneering facility, which is set to revolutionize our U.S. supply chain by producing low-cost, high-performance, and safe batteries. This, in turn, will accelerate the adoption of clean energy and strengthen our national power grid’s resilience, security, and flexibility.

Establishing the Grid Storage Launchpad propels the Tri-Cities to the forefront of battery storage innovation nationwide.

This state-of-the-art facility is dedicated to analyzing and developing new materials and advancing battery technology, which is crucial for integrating clean energy into the grid. Long-term battery storage is essential for ensuring a steady supply of clean electricity, a key driver of Washington state’s economy. Moreover, the advancements in grid-scale battery storage will pave the way for new technologies, including those that power electric vehicles.

The new PNNL facility will focus on creating advanced battery systems using novel materials, ensuring the efficient and cost-effective delivery of electricity during power outages or when renewable energy sources are unavailable.

In an exciting leap forward, the Grid Storage Launchpad will employ cutting-edge methods, such as physics-informed data models, to discover new materials—a remarkable advancement for Washington State.

PNNL’s center will bring together scientists, engineers, DOE laboratories, and industry leaders to drive innovation and train the future workforce, creating numerous jobs in the Tri-Cities area.

I am deeply grateful to the Washington State Legislature for recognizing the immense economic potential of this research facility and for allocating $8.3 million in funding. A special thanks goes to former Senator Sharon Brown, R-Kennewick, for her instrumental role in securing this vital support. I also want to extend my heartfelt thanks to the bipartisan support from our local, state, and federal elected officials, whose collaboration has been crucial in making this vision a reality.