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Kimley>>>Horn <br /> MEMORANDUM <br /> Chad Bala, Community Development Services Director <br /> To: Ellie Myers,Planner <br /> From: Zoe Tapert, Clay White <br /> Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. <br /> Date: June 1 V1, 2026 <br /> Subject: Clean Energy Siting and Permitting (CESP) Project Update <br /> Overview <br /> Kittitas County is progressing the Clean Energy Siting and Permitting (CESP) Project to evaluate and <br /> update how energy facilities are sited and permitted in the County. The CESP Project includes <br /> completion of a programmatic Environmental Impact Statement(EIS)to identify suitable locations, <br /> potential impacts, and mitigation measures for utility scale solar, utility scale wind, geothermal energy, <br /> battery energy storage systems (BESS), and small modular reactors (SMRs). <br /> The CESP Project goals include: <br /> Determine what clean energy types are most suitable for permitting. <br /> • Strengthen community control of permitting in Kittitas County for identified energy projects. <br /> • Develop and/or modify county code, where appropriate, so project applicants and the public <br /> understand: <br /> o Where various uses may be appropriate, <br /> o What studies and information are necessary to evaluate applications, and <br /> o The types of mitigation which may be appropriate for energy projects that are <br /> proposed in Kittitas County. <br /> Where energy uses may be appropriate, create a streamlined permitting process. <br /> The general process for an EIS includes scoping the impacts and alternatives the EIS will study, <br /> drafting the EIS, issuance and public comment of the Draft EIS, and the issuance of a Final EIS which <br /> occurs prior to final adoption of any potential development code changes. As part of the <br /> programmatic EIS, the CESP Project alternatives include: <br /> • Alternative#1, No Action Alternative, as required under SEPA, assumes that energy <br /> development for solar, wind, battery energy storage systems (BESS), geothermal, and small <br /> modular reactors (SMR)would occur within Kittitas County based on the current development <br /> regulations with no changes. <br /> • Alternative#2 will re-evaluate locations suitable and appropriate for utility scale solar and <br /> wind along with current permitting procedures as well as evaluate impacts associated with <br />