Planning a clean energy project in Washington state? The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has a geographic information system (GIS) tool to help companies develop clean energy (i.e., onshore wind, solar PV) in Washington and determine whether state lands may be worthwhile to include in proposed project footprints. DNR has pre-screened thousands of state trust properties considering criteria such as on-shore wind and solar electricity generation capability; limiting potential conflicts (e.g., environmental and cultural resources); and consulting with stakeholders where existing uses may otherwise be incompatible with potential clean energy siting. What remains are select parcels in central and eastern Washington that could serve as a starting point for continued collaboration between a company and DNR Clean Energy. Additional due diligence on a project-specific basis is required to determine whether candidate parcel(s) could ultimately be suitable for clean energy land access contracts (e.g., land-use licenses, leases). Additional parcel vetting steps DNR Clean Energy would steward depend on the type of land access desired (please see the Process as laid out on DNR Clean Energy’s main website). 

 

The DNR Clean Energy Screening Tool is available on demand. Results generated by this tool do not represent a decision or commitment by DNR to grant access to property for clean energy development in any way. Tribes, stakeholders, and community members are encouraged to provide feedback on this tool by emailing mlcep@dnr.wa.gov. Additional information about this tool or the DNR Clean Energy parcel vetting process in general is available upon request.

 

DNR is the largest land manager in Washington currently considering granting access to its lands for clean energy development. By working proactively with Tribes, stakeholders, and available data, DNR Clean Energy can lend insight to the Washington clean energy siting regulatory landscape, reduce risk, and help developers save time and money as a result. When companies partner with DNR, resulting revenues fund schools and public organizations across Washington. 

 

As a state agency, DNR must follow specific laws, policies, and processes when granting land access for any purpose. The amount of time required to vet candidate parcels varies by the type of land contract desired. Clean energy land-use licenses can take up to six months to finalize, and a Washington State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) determination, sometimes a multi-year process, must be completed before DNR Clean Energy can execute a lease. In addition to DNR completing an administrative review to determine if clean energy is the best use of the land, additional due diligence includes environmental compliance, Tribal consultation, public notification and outreach.

 

DNR is not a regulator of clean energy projects, and the agency does not permit or approve the overall project if only a subset of the proposed footprint is on state land. DNR entering a land-use license or lease agreement is not an endorsement of a project by DNR, and all projects must complete the required permitting processes. DNR’s leasing processes are public and subject to records requests. If you are interested in learning more about clean energy on DNR property, please email mlcep@dnr.wa.gov.