County sets hearing on permit

for battery energy storage system The Skagit County hearing examiner will hold a public hearing 9 a.m. Dec. 20 to consider a special use permit application from NextEra Energy to develop a battery energy storage system near The Port of Skagit.

The project would be located on 22.6 acres, on property zoned Bayview Ridge Heavy Industrial in the Bayview Ridge Urban Growth Area and would be capable of storing up to 200 megawatt hours of energy for a 4-hour duration. The BESS would provide increased power capacity and grid resiliency for Skagit County.

The proposed BESS project would be located along the west side of McFarland Road, south of Ovenell Road. The property is owned by Sierra Pacific Industries and the BESS would be developed just east of the Puget Sound Energy substation site.

The hearing will include testimony from the project proponent, NextEra Energy, and a recommendation from the county’s planning staff on the permit application. Public testimony will be accepted.

The examiner will decide within about two weeks. Parties of record who submitted comments or testimony with a mailing and/or email address will be notified.

Skagit County PDS completed a State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) review of the project in June 2024 and issued a Mitigated Determination of Nonsignificance. The project is classified as a Major Utility Development per Skagit County Code 14.16.190(5)(c). The MDNS notice was published in the Skagit Valley Herald, posted on site, and sent to neighboring property owners. No comments or appeals were submitted.

Written comments must be received by 4:30 p.m. Dec. 19 or presented at the public hearing. Send email to [email protected] or use the Planning and Development Services website under Public Notices and Comment Opportunities link: https://www.skagitcounty.net/departments/planningandpermit/commentsform.htm

To speak at the hearing, email [email protected] or call 360-416-1129.

Source: Skagit County