SB 5241 — Adding fusion energy to facilities that may obtain site certification for the purposes of chapter 80.50 RCW.

S-0585.1Z-0129.3 SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5241 State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session By Senate Environment, Energy & Technology (originally sponsored by Senators Liias, Boehnke, Christian, Cortes, Dozier, Hasegawa, MacEwen, Nobles, Saldaña, Salomon, Shewmake, and J.

by request of Energy Facilities Siting and Evaluation Council)Council READRead FIRSTfirst TIMEtime 02/10/25.01/14/25.

Referred to Committee on Environment, Energy & Technology.

amending RCW 80.50.010,80.50.060; 80.50.060, and 80.50.300;

RCW 80.50.010 and 2022 c 183 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

The legislature finds that the present and predicted growth in energy demands in the state of Washington requires a procedure for the selection and use of sites for energy facilities and the identification of a state position with respect to each proposed site.

The legislature recognizes that the selection of sites will have a significant impact upon the welfare of the population, the location and growth of industry and the use of the natural resources of the state.

It is the policy of the state of Washington to reduce dependence on fossil fuels by recognizing the need for clean energy in order to strengthen the state's economy, meet the state's greenhouse gas reduction obligations, and mitigate the significant near-term and long-term impacts from climate change while conducting a public p.

1 SSB 5241 process that is transparent and inclusive to all with particular attention to overburdened communities.

The legislature finds that the in-state manufacture of industrial products that enable a clean energy economy is critical to advancing the state's objectives in providing affordable electricity, promoting renewable energy, strengthening the state's economy, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Therefore, the legislature intends to provide the council with additional authority regarding the siting of clean energy product manufacturing facilities.

It is the policy of the state of Washington to recognize the pressing need for increased energy facilities, and to ensure through available and reasonable methods that the location and operation of all energy facilities and certain clean energy product manufacturing facilities will produce minimal adverse effects on the environment, ecology of the land and its wildlife, and the ecology of state waters and their aquatic life.

It is the intent to seek courses of action that will balance the increasing demands for energy facility location and operation in conjunction with the broad interests of the public.

In addition, it is the intent of the legislature to streamline application review for energy facilities to meet the state's energy goals and to authorize applications for review of certain clean energy product manufacturing facilities to be considered under the provisions of this chapter.

Such action will be based on these premises:

(1) To assure Washington state citizens that, where applicable, operational safeguards are at least as stringent as the criteria established by the federal government and are technically sufficient for their welfare and protection.

(2) To preserve and protect the quality of the environment;

to enhance the public's opportunity to enjoy the esthetic and recreational benefits of the air, water and land resources;

to promote air cleanliness;

to pursue beneficial changes in the environment;

and to promote environmental justice for overburdened communities.

(3) To encourage the development and integration of clean energy sources.

(4) To provide abundant clean energy at reasonable cost.

(5) To avoid costs of complete site restoration and demolition of improvements and infrastructure at unfinished fission nuclear energy sites, and to use unfinished fission nuclear energy facilities for p.

2 SSB 5241 public uses, including economic development, under the regulatory and management control of local governments and port districts.

(6) To avoid costly duplication in the siting process and ensure that decisions are made timely and without unnecessary delay while also encouraging meaningful public comment and participation in energy facility decisions.

Sec.

2.

(4) "Associated facilities" means storage, transmission, handling, or other related and supporting facilities connecting an energy plant with the existing energy supply, processing, or distribution system, including, but not limited to, communications, controls, mobilizing or maintenance equipment, instrumentation, and other types of ancillary transmission equipment, off-line storage or venting required for efficient operation or safety of the transmission system and overhead, and surface or subsurface lines of physical access for the inspection, maintenance, and safe operations of the transmission facility and new transmission lines constructed to operate at nominal voltages of at least 115,000 volts to connect a thermal power plant or alternative energy facilities to the northwest power grid.

However, common carrier railroads or motor vehicles shall not be included.

31 SSBSB 5241 (5)(4) "Biofuel""Associated facilities" means astorage, liquidtransmission, handling, or gaseousother fuelrelated derivedand fromsupporting organicfacilities matterconnecting an energy plant with the existing energy supply, processing, or distribution system, including, but not limited to, biodiesel,communications, renewablecontrols, diesel,mobilizing ethanol,or renewablemaintenance naturalequipment, gas,instrumentation, and renewableother propane.types of ancillary transmission equipment, off-line storage or venting required for efficient operation or safety of the transmission system and overhead, and surface or subsurface lines of physical access for the inspection, maintenance, and safe operations of the transmission facility and new transmission lines constructed to operate at nominal voltages of at least 115,000 volts to connect a thermal power plant or alternative energy facilities to the northwest power grid.

However, common carrier railroads or motor vehicles shall not be included.

(5) "Biofuel" means a liquid or gaseous fuel derived from organic matter including, but not limited to, biodiesel, renewable diesel, ethanol, renewable natural gas, and renewable propane.

(8)p. "Construction" means on-site improvements, excluding exploratory work, which cost in excess of ((two hundred fifty thousand dollars)) $250,000.

2 SB 5241 (8) "Construction" means on-site improvements, excluding exploratory work, which cost in excess of ((two hundred fifty thousand dollars)) $250,000.

p.(13) "Energy facility" means an energy plant or transmission facilities:

4 SSB 5241 (13) "Energy facility" means an energy plant or transmission facilities:

(d) Facilities which will have the capacity to receive more than an average of ((fifty thousand)) 50,000 barrels per day of crude or refinedp. petroleum or liquefied petroleum gas which has been or will be transported over marine waters, except that the provisions of this chapter shall not apply to storage facilities unless occasioned by such new facility construction;

3 SB 5241 refined petroleum or liquefied petroleum gas which has been or will be transported over marine waters, except that the provisions of this chapter shall not apply to storage facilities unless occasioned by such new facility construction;

p.(15)(a) "Green electrolytic hydrogen" means hydrogen produced through electrolysis.