EFSEC’s Second Recommendation and Governor's Decision

On October 18, 2024 Governor Inslee signed the final revised SCA. EFSEC released the Governor’s Remand Order and he final SCA on November 1, 2024.

Inslee had sent the original EFSEC recommendation back to the council, saying the council needed to prioritize the need for clean energy and make a less restrictive recommendation for his approval of the project.

EFSEC changed its’ recommendations and reduced the proposed number of turbines by about 23%, unless Scout Clean Energy could find space for them elsewhere on the project.

The initial recommendation to Inslee provided mitigation measures for endangered ferruginous hawks, Yakama Nation traditional cultural properties, the impacts of turbines on fighting wildfires and the visual impacts of the turbines to the greater Tri-Cities area.

But the revised recommendation approved by Inslee no longer directly addresses the visual impacts of wind turbines along the southern skyline of the Tri-Cities and reduces other mitigation measures.

Scout signed the final SCA on November 21, 2024.

The documents can be downloaded at the EFSEC website here.