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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-3-9-CDS-SS-BRIEFINGS KITTITAS COUNTY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES STUDY SESSION STAFF REPORT STUDY SESSION DATE: March 9 h, 2026 ACTION REQUESTED: Staff direction on preferred clean energy uses to pursue. BACKGROUND: KCCDS has been awarded the Clean Energy Site Permitting(CESP) grant. This grant allows Kittitas County to prepare for clean energy development while ensuring environmental protection aligning with the state climate and energy goals. This amendment authorizes the CDS Director to move forward with the Clean Energy Siting and Permitting (CESP) Grant funding and administer payments for work related to the CESP Grant. INTERACTION: Kittitas County Community Development Services Department. RECOMMENDATION: Staff Direction on types of uses other than Wind, Solar, Battery Storage. HANDLING: None. ATTACHMENTS: Energy Memo list. LEAD STAFF: Chad Bala, Director. Kimley>>>Horn MEMORANDUM To: Chad Bala and Jeremy Johnston, Kittitas County From: Anna Lundin and Zoe Tapert Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. Date: February 26th, 2026 Subject: Clean Energy Types in Washington State The purpose of this memo is to provide high-level informational material with linked resources on the clean energy resources in and coming to Washington State to help in County discussions on clean energy siting and permitting.The current project focus in the scope of work is clean energy with call outs to solar,wind, and battery energy storage systems. C Current Kittitas County . . Chapter 17.61 Utilities Geothermal power facility Major thermal power plant facility Major alternative energy facility Chapter 17.61A Wind Farm Resource Overlay Zone Wind Farms Chapter 17.61 B Small Wind Energy Systems Small wind energy system Chapter 17.61C Solar Power Production Facilities Solar Power Production Facilities-includes batteries The energy types provided in the sections below include: Solar, wind, energy storage systems, nuclear, geothermal, renewable natural gas, biofuel, biomass energy, hydrogen, and other generalized renewable/alternative energy terms. Solar Energy Common solar types: • Distributed—less than 1 megawatt o Small individual rooftop solar o Community solar Utility scale solar farms Kimley>>>Horn Page 2 The Washington State Department of Ecology has programmatic EIS materials for utility scale solar (alone, with BESS, and includes agriculture uses) linked here. Washington State Definitions: • Under Clean Energy Transformation Act(CETA), RCW 19.405.020: No definition • RCW 36.70.025: "Solar energy system" defined. • WAC 504-49-180 Wind Energy Common names: • Small wind energy Wind farms The Washington State Department of Ecology has programmatic EIS materials for utility scale onshore wind (alone, with BESS, and includes agriculture uses) linked here. Washington State Definitions: • Under CETA, RCW 19.405.020: No definition • Under RCW 80.50.020: No definition • Under RCW 70A.550.010 o (6) "Utility-scale wind energy facility" means a facility used in the generation of electricity by means of turbines or other devices that capture and employ the kinetic energy of the wind and: ■ Is required under federal aviation administration regulations, guidelines, circulars, or standards, as they existed as of January 1, 2023, to have obstruction lights; or ■ Has at least one obstruction light and at least one wind turbine with a hub height of at least 75 feet above ground level. Energy Storage Systems Energy storage systems include battery energy storage systems (BESS) but are not limited to this form. The different types include thermal, mechanical, and chemical energy storage systems. BESS is a chemical storage system. More information: Electricity Storage I US EPA BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS Status: Newer, not emerging, but key component to clean energy systems The Washington State Department of Ecology studied BESS impacts alongside utility-scale wind and solar as part of programmatic EIS: I Kim ey>>>Horn Page 3 The Washington Legislature has a current bill in session with a working definition of BESS. Current draft HB 1960: • 'Battery electric storage systems" means commercially available technology that is capable of retaining electricity, storing the energy for a period of time, and delivering the electricity after storage by chemical, thermal, mechanical, or other means that has at least 10 megawatts of storage that is not subject to the provisions of chapter 84.12 RCW. • 'Battery electric storage systems"does not include any form of hydroelectric power. Additional Resources: • _ 3atter Energy Storage Systems—Coming Soon to Your Community? MECHANICAL ENERGY STORAGE The mechanical pump storage(for hydropower)example from the Yakama Nation: „us .rq e,-nlght$213 renewal Standard Nuclear SMALL MODULAR REACTORS (SMR) "Small modular reactors"are a type of nuclear energy. "Small cell nuclear" is a more specific type of small modular reactor. The technology for SMR is emerging rapidly and is a federal focus. SMR can include plutonium. Federal lands can be used to expedite the deployment of SMR. Given the amount of federal lands in Kittitas County, the area the County could consider is something in writing which can provide a buffer from private or public property that lies in county/state jurisdiction. Washington State Definitions: None found. Additional Resources: • International Atomic Energy Agency: What are Small Modular Reactors(SMRs}? 1 IAEA • DOE: Advanced Small Modular Reactors(SMRs) 1 Department of Ener-q • Richland, WA—Amazon Project: What are SMRs? See what one of the first SMR facilities in the U.S. could look like Geothermal Energy Not all geothermal energy systems are equal in their impacts. Typically, geothermal energy is a closed system and more benign in impacts. The more emerging geothermal energy(primarily occurring in Utah) is utility-scale,which is an open system that is more uncertain but could have a much larger subsurface impact. 2828 Colby Ave. Suite 200, Everett,WA 98201 �: Kim ey>>>Horn Page 4 The Washington State Department of Ecology is currently exploring a programmatic EIS for geothermal energy and is hosting webinars to share information and gather feedback: Geothermal energy collaborative Process -Wasl -- ate Del2artment of Ecology Washington State Definitions: • Under RCW 78.60.030 o (7)(a)"Geothermal resources" includes the natural heat of the earth, the energy, in whatever form, below the surface of the earth present in, resulting from, or created by, or that may be extracted from, the natural heat, and all minerals in solution or other products obtained from naturally heated fluids, brines, associated gases and steam, in whatever form,found below the surface of the earth, exclusive of helium or oil, hydrocarbon gas or other hydrocarbon substances, but including, specifically: o (i)All products of geothermal processes, including indigenous steam, and hot water and hot brines; o (ii)Steam and other bases, hot water and hot brines resulting from water, gas, or other fluids artificially introduced into geothermal formations; o (iii) Heat or other associated energy found in geothermal formations; and o (iv)Any by-product derived from them. o (b)"Geothermal resources"does not include heat energy used in ground source heat exchange systems for ground source heat pumps. Renewable Natural Gas and Biofuel Both are fossil fuel based and politically charged as falling under the"clean energy" umbrella. RENEWABLE NATURAL GAS Many states don't recognize renewable natural gas as a separate gas from natural gas. It's not always significantly cleaner than unscrubbed natural gas. Would be best grouped with any oil/gas regulations the County has. Washington State Definitions: Under CETA, RCW 19.405.020(32) ...a gas consisting largely of methane and other hydrocarbons derived from the decomposition of organic material in landfills, wastewater treatment facilities, and anaerobic digesters. BIOFUEL Washington State Definitions: Kimley>>)Horn Pages • Under CETA, RCW 19.405.020: No definition • RCW 80.50.020: Def • (5)"Biofuel" means a liquid or gaseous fuel derived from organic matter including, but not limited to, biodiesel, renewable diesel, ethanol, renewable natural gas, and renewable propane. Biomass Energy The products used in biomass energy are usually combusted and would trigger air emissions permitting. Washington State Definitions: Under CETA, RCW 19.405.020(5) • (a) Includes: (i)Organic by-products of pulping and the wood manufacturing process; (ii) animal manure; (iii)solid organic fuels from wood;(iv)forest or field residues; (v)untreated wooden demolition or construction debris; (vi)food waste and food processing residuals; (vii)liquors derived from algae; (viii)dedicated energy crops; and (ix)yard waste. • (b) Does not include: • (i)Wood pieces that have been treated with chemical preservatives such as creosote, pentachlorophenol, or copper-chrome-arsenic; (ii)wood from old growth forests; or(iii) municipal solid waste. Hydrogen Energy Hydrogen energy can be a fuel or storage system and is growing increasingly complicated in its regulations. It largely depends on how it's used and stored. Many counties are deterred from it because of its complexities and are left for a state level. Colby Ave. Suite 200, Everett,WA 98201 �: Kimley>>>Horn Page 6 Hydrogen Colour Mode of Production Fuel Carbon Intensity Electricity from Wind,Solar, • Geothermal,tidal,Hydro Nuclear heat and Purple/Pink • •. Electrolyses electricity/Nuclear electricity Near zero in tiectrolysis Solar electricity Steam Methane Reforming, Natural qas and coat Blue fiydrogenGasification+CCS . PyrolysPs Natural gas SGrey Hydrogenteam methane reforming (WAR) Brown Gasification Coat-Brown:lignite,Black: Black coat HydrogenBlack The Washington State Department of Ecology has programmatic EIS materials for green hydrogen production and storage facilities linked here- Washington State Definitions: • Under CETA, RCW 19.405.020(31) "Renewable hydrogen" means hydrogen produced using renewable resources both as the source for the hydrogen and the source for the energy input into the production process. • Under RCW 80.50.020 • (15)(a)"Green electrolytic hydrogen" means hydrogen produced through electrolysis. • (b) "Green electrolytic hydrogen"does not include hydrogen manufactured using steam reforming or any other conversion technology that produces hydrogen from a fossil fuel feedstock. • (16)"Green hydrogen carrier" means a chemical compound, created using electricity or renewable resources as energy input and without use of fossil fuel as a feedstock, from renewable hydrogen or green electrolytic hydrogen for the purposes of transportation, storage, and dispensing of hydrogen. Hydropower This would be more state jurisdictional authority but see the storage facility with Yakama Nation. Colby2828 00 Everett,WA 98201 �: Kimley>>>Horn Page 7 Wave, Ocean, Tidal Not applicable to Kittitas County. Generalized Clean Energy Terms The following terms are provided to help in understanding the generalized terms that the state may reference or how they are navigating emerging clean energy technologies. RENEWABLE RESOURCE Washington State Definitions: • Under CETA, RCW 19.405.020(33)'Renewable resource" means: • (a)Water; (b)wind; (c)solar energy; (d)geothermal energy; (e) renewable natural gas; (f) renewable hydrogen; (g)wave, ocean, or tidal power; (h) biodiesel fuel that is not derived from crops raised on land cleared from old growth or first growth forests; or(i) biomass energy. ALTERNATIVE ENERGY RESOURCE Washington State Definitions: • Under RCW (1)"Alternative energy resource" includes energy facilities of the following types: (a) Wind; (b)solar energy; (c) geothermal energy; (d) renewable natural gas; (e)wave or tidal action; (f) biomass energy based on solid organic fuels from wood, forest, or field residues, or dedicated energy crops that do not include wood pieces that have been treated with chemical preservatives such as creosote, pentachlorophenol, or copper-chrome-arsenic; or(g) renewable or green electrolytic hydrogen. EMERGING CLEAN ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES In a Fepartment of Ecology publicatio _, the following energy types were identified as"emerging clean energy technology": long duration energy storage, advanced nuclear, nuclear fusion, green hydrogen, enhanced/advanced geothermal, sustainable aviation fuel, and anerobic digesters. The recommendations from the Department of Ecology included: Recommendation: • Support local government response to emerging technologies Assist counties and cities in updating their local codes for emerging clean energy technologies. This includes providing template language that could be modified to meet local conditions and concerns. Emerging facility types may not be fully addressed under current municipal codes and local planners are unlikely to have the Colby2828 00 Everett,WA 98201 �: Kimley>>>Horn Page 8 technical background in these facilities to effectively review proposals. Support would include connecting local governments with helpful resources and providing objective and factual information on emerging technologies. • Explore opportunities to fund agrivoltaic demonstration projects to provide counties with on-the-ground experience when considering local code amendments to potentially allow these types of projects on resource lands. • Identify and resolve obstacles to developing geothermal energy resources • Support exploratory drilling and water resource studies in geothermal areas of interest to gather data. Areas of interest would be determined by agencies in coordination with industry, utilities, communities, and Tribes. Colby2828 00 Everett,WA 98201 �'