Washington State’s Permitting Expedition Legislation

In May 2023, Washington State passed a law overhauling the permitting process for renewable energy projects. House Bill 1216 is intended to provide for up-front planning, early community and tribal input, and efficient environmental review of new clean energy projects. It would attempt to do that by establishing a coordinating council led by the Department of Ecology and Department of Commerce officials; make certain clean energy projects eligible for a permitting process overseen by the Department of Ecology; require environmental studies to be completed within two years; and start a new Department of Commerce program for clean energy projects of statewide significance.