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Legislation watch
2017 Senate Bill 5470: Advancing the development of renewable energy by improving the permitting process for geothermal resources exploration
Introduced by Sen. Sharon Brown (Kennewick) (R) on January 25, 2017
Referred to the Senate Energy, Environment &Telecommunications Committee on January 25, 2017
Substitute offered in the Senate on February 9, 2017
Allows a single permit and permit fee to cover all core holes for a project gathering geothermal data. Removes the geothermal permit fee, hearing, and notice requirements for core holes that are drilled more than 750 feet into the bedrock or the discovery of geothermal energy. Removes the public notice and hearing requirements to drill or redrill a well, and instead requires the Department of Natural Resources to review an application for drilling a well as the lead agency under the State Environmental Policy Act.
Referred to the Senate Rules Committee on February 10, 2017
Amendment offered by Sen. Reuven Carlyle (Seattle) (D) on March 1, 2017
Deletes the SEPA exemption while retaining requirement that a single DNR permit must apply to all core holes.
The amendment passed by voice vote in the Senate on March 1, 2017
Received in the House on March 3, 2017
Referred to the House Environment Committee on March 3, 2017
Amendment offered in the House on March 27, 2017
Reinstates the requirement that a public hearing be held on geothermal well drilling applications, while preserving the current exception from public hearing requirements for geothermal core hole drilling applications. Eliminates the statement that the department of natural resources must review geothermal drilling applications as the lead agency under the state environmental policy act, where applicable.
Referred to the House Rules Committee on April 7, 2017
Received in the Senate on April 17, 2017
Senate concurred in House amendments.
Signed by Gov. Jay Inslee on May 8, 2017