Due to public health concerns related to the spread of the novel corona virus (COVID-19), the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council office (EFSEC) is closed to the public as of March 16, 2020. All EFSEC staff are telecommuting until further notice and EFSEC operations will continue remotely. You may reach EFSEC by phone (360) 664-1345 or by email efsec@utc.wa.gov during regular business hours, 8 am – 5 pm, Monday through Friday. EFSEC Council meetings will be held by teleconference until further notice. Please check this site regularly for updates.

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Columbia Solar

Recent Activity

12/06/2019 - Cover Letter for Order 878
12/06/2019 - Order 878 Reinstating SCA's
11/25/2019 - November 25, 2019 Special Meeting Notice
11/25/2019 - November 25, 2019 Special Meeting Agenda
11/20/2019 - November 20, 2019 TUUSSO's Request to Reinstate SCA's
09/05/2019 - Order 877 - Order Suspending Site Certification Agreements for the Columbia Solar Project
09/05/2019 - Suspension of Site Certification Letter
11/15/2018 - Exhibit A
11/15/2018 - Exhibit B
11/15/2018 - Petition for Judicial Review

Project Background

The Columbia Solar Project is an alternative energy project that has been approved but not yet constructed by TUUSSO Energy, LLC (TUUSSO). The January 26, 2018 Columbia Solar Application for Site Certification (ASC) proposed to construct five new photovoltaic (PV) facilities at five site locations in Kittitas County, Washington. Two generation tie lines would also be constructed. On October 17, 2018 Governor Inslee approved the Site Certification Agreements for five solar project sites named as follows:

  • Camas
  • Fumaria
  • Penstemon
  • Typha
  • Urtica

Each of the 5 new PV solar arrays would be capable of providing up to 5 Megawatts (MW) of solar energy within the Puget Sound Energy (PSE) service area, for a total of 25 MWac of electrical power generation. The five solar arrays and two generation tie lines are to be constructed on approximately 232 leased acres within Kittitas County.

On August 20, 2019 the Council approved Order No. 877 which suspended TUUSSO Energy’s Site Certification Agreements for the Columbia Solar Project. Following the suspension, on November 20, 2019 TUUSSO Energy submitted a letter requesting reinstatement of the Columbia Solar Project’s 5 Site Certification Agreements. This request was granted following a November 25, 2019 vote by the Council to approve Order No. 878 to reinstate the 5 Site Certification Agreements.

The Kittitas Valley is one of the sunniest areas of the state, and the array sites are in close proximity to existing PSE electrical infrastructure. The locations selected by the applicant were based on several criteria, including consistency with the Kittitas County zoning code and comprehensive plan, land use efficiencies, placement on previously disturbed farmland to avoid environmentally sensitive areas, and the minimization of new electrical infrastructure by locating close to existing distribution l

Applicant:
Tuusso Energy, LLC
500 Yale Avenue North
Seattle, WA 98109
(206) 303-0198
Location:
Valley Land Company, LLC
1585 Tjossem Road
Ellensburg, WA 98926

Orders - Columbia Solar

Document Titlesort descending Document Date
Order 877 - Order Suspending Site Certification Agreements for the Columbia Solar Project 09/05/2019
Order 878 Reinstating SCA's 12/06/2019
Order Granting Expedited Processing 04/17/2018

 

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