State of Washington

Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council

 

Hop Hill Solar Project

EFSEC Docket No. EF-220356

 

NOTICE OF INFORMATIONAL PUBLIC MEETING

AND LANDUSE CONSISTENCY HEARING

February 23, 2023

5 PM

 

Description of Proposal: On December 22, 2022, the Washington State Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC) received an Application for Site Certification (ASC) from HOHI bn, LLC (Applicant) for a 500-megawatt (MW) solar photovoltaic (PV) generation facility with battery storage located in unincorporated Benton County, Washington. The ASC and other materials are posted on the EFSEC website: https://www.efsec.wa.gov/energy-facilities/hop-hill-solar.

 

Proponent: HOHI bn, LLC 13123 E Emerald Coast Pkwy, Suite B #158 Inlet Beach, FL 32461.

 

State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) Lead Agency: EFSEC

 

SEPA Threshold Determination Required: A threshold determination is required to determine whether an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is required. The threshold determination will be made based on the probable project impacts identified in the information presented in the ASC. A threshold determination of non-significance (DNS) may be issued if the SEPA responsible official (EFSEC Director) determines there will be no probable significant adverse environmental impacts. An EIS is not required if a DNS is issued.

 

Meeting Location: The Public Information Meeting and Land Use Consistency Hearing will be held partially in person AND virtually via Microsoft Teams.

 

You may attend the meeting in person at:

• Three Rivers Convention Center, Halls G & H

7016 West Grandridge Blvd.

Kennewick, WA 99336

 

Additional information about the venue such as maps and directions can be found on our website: https://www.efsec.wa.gov/energy-facilities/hop-hill-solar

 

You may attend the meeting via Microsoft Teams online or via phone at:

• https://bit.ly/EFSEC_HopHill_InfoMtgLUH
• Phone number +1 564-999-2000 Conference ID: 721264534#

 

To facilitate these remote meetings, EFSEC would like to invite speakers to sign up ahead of the meeting. Anyone wishing to speak during the Public Information Meeting or the Land Use Hearing, please notify EFSEC by phone at (360) 664-1345 or email at efsec@efsec.wa.gov before 5:00 pm on February 23, 2023.

 

Please review EFSEC’s public meeting rules on our website: https://www.efsec.wa.gov/about-efsec/public-meeting-ground-rules

 

Public Comment: Public Comment will be accepted during the Public Information Meeting and Land Use Consistency Hearing. If you are unable to attend the meeting, please send your comment in writing to efsec@efsec.wa.gov or at the EFSEC office mailing address below. An online database will also be open during the meeting at https://comments.efsec.wa.gov/ for submission of written comments.

 

Open house: February 23, 2023 5pm – 5:30pm: The Applicant and EFSEC staff will be available to answer questions about the Project and the EFSEC review process.

 

Informational Public Meeting: February 23, 2023, 5:30 – 7 PM or last speaker whichever comes first: As required by RCW 80.50.090 (1) and WAC 463-26-025 EFSEC will hold a Public Informational Meeting. At this meeting, EFSEC Staff and the Applicant will introduce themselves and the Counsel for the Environment, an Assistant Attorney General appointed by the Washington Attorney General, will be introduced and will explain the duties of this position. The Applicant and EFSEC staff will then make presentations. Following the presentations, the public will be invited to provide comments. Speakers will have limited minutes to provide comment, and any additional comments will be directed to be submitted online or postal mail. Duration of speaking time will be announced at the meeting, depending on the number of speakers signed up, to allow as many commenters as possible.

 

Land Use Consistency Hearing: February 23, 2023, 7 PM – 8:00 PM or last speaker, whichever comes first: As required by RCW 80.50.090 (2) and WAC 463-26-035 at approximately 6:30 PM, EFSEC will hold a Land Use Hearing. During this hearing, the public will be given an opportunity to provide testimony regarding the proposed Project’s consistency and compliance with land use plans and zoning ordinances. Speakers will have limited minutes to provide comment, and any additional comments will be directed to be submitted online or postal mail. Duration of speaking time will be announced at the meeting, depending on the number of speakers signed up, to allow as many commenters as possible.

 

Note: The Land Use Consistency Hearing will begin no later than 30 minutes after the conclusion of the Informational Public Meeting, which may end before 7 PM.

 

For information regarding the Project please contact Amí Hafkemeyer, EFSEC Director of Siting and Compliance at (360) 664-1305. If you have special accommodation needs or need language translation services to provide your comment, please contact EFSEC staff at (360) 664-1345 or send an email to efsec@efsec.wa.gov.

 

NOTE: This is the last notice you will receive automatically. If you wish to continue receiving notices for this project, please visit our website and sign up for the Hop Hill mailing list at the bottom of the project webpage: https://www.efsec.wa.gov/energy-facilities/hop-hill-solar

 

Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council

Sonia Bumpus, EFSEC Director

621 Woodland Square Loop P.O. Box 43172,

Olympia, WA, 98504-3172