Teanaway Solar Reserve permit coming Soon

Mike Johnston at The Daily Record has the story on the Kittitas County Development Office making a decision about TSR's CUP application and SEPA checklist. TSR can be in front of the Board of Adjustment in early August:

Teanaway Solar Reserve decision coming

More public review planned

June 29, 2010

An initial decision may come July 15 on the level of environmental impact the proposed Teanaway Solar Reserve project may create.

That determination, by Kittitas County consulting landuse planner Anna Nelson, will begin another round of public review of the project that proposes the installation of 400,000 photovoltaic (solar) panels at a 982-acre site four miles northwest of Cle Elum leased from the American Forest Land Co.

The review may lead to a public hearing, tentatively set for Aug. 11, on the project’s request to the Kittitas County Board of Adjustment for a conditional-use permit for construction and operation of the facility. The project is planned for a maximum generating capacity of 75 megawatts of electricity.

County Planner Dan Valoff said Nelson’s decision will likely list a limited number of environmental impacts expected to be created by the project.

Solar farm proponents then must take specific steps to significantly lessen those impacts to construct and   operate the solar facility.

Appeal period

Proponents of the estimated $300 million to $350 million project, a group of investors called Teanaway Solar LLC, plan to use 477 acres of leased land.

After a decision on the   project, individuals and groups have 10 working days to appeal the environmental impact declaration. The fivemember Board of Adjustment would hear and decide on any appeal.

When the environmental review of the project is complete, the Adjustment Board   will conduct a public hearing to scrutinize whether to issue a conditional-use permit.

The board can attach any number of conditions to a permit. The board also can turn down the permit or call for more work on the proposal.

What’s happened so far

The comment period on environmental impacts was lengthened on the project after Nelson called on the partnership to submit more information. The partnership later asked for more time to research and provide the requested data.

Public open house events also were conducted on the project. In addition, the proponent has submitted a supplemental permit application with more information.

Added review time also took place to allow the appointment of a technical advisory committee for the project, and for the committee to meet and work on recommended mitigation measures.

Jim Fossett at The Northern Kittitas County Tribune has more information on what plans TSR has after this process in his June 17 article:

Nonetheless, Meagan Walker, a public relations officer for Teanaway Solar Reserve, said she's pleased with progress so far.

"We hope we'll have the first decision, on the environmental checklist, soon," she said.

"When we clear the Board of Adjustment, with a Conditional Use Permit in hand, we'll move very quickly to start hiring locally, beginning with a job fair. At that point we'll announce the scope of the jobs we have to offer and how people go about applying for them. We are determined to hire locally."

You can read the whole article: TSR waiting for Green Lights - NKCT June 17. Be sure to check back with our announcements about the county's decision and the exact date for the public meeting with the Board of Adjustment.