WA Climate Action re: Electric Reliability & Capacity (HB 1673 & HB 1819)

A lot [emphasis added!] is in the news, so this newsletter will focus only on local actions.

Here in Olympia WA, some good news is that despite 12 bills dying as of Friday, 2 bills have stayed alive (HB 1673 and HB 1819), and will shortly be reviewed in the Appropriations Committee. So, if you have a few minutes and are so inclined, you can easily make public comments to help keep these two bills alive!

Click HERE to comment on HB1673 and HERE for HB 1819. More info below on each bill (provided by CCL).

HB 1673: Improving Reliability and Capacity of Washington State’s Electric Transmission System

The Issue Washington’s electric transmission system faces critical challenges, including:

• Aging infrastructure that struggles to meet modern energy demands.

• Rising electricity consumption driven by population growth and electrification.

• Declining hydroelectric power due to climate change impacts.

• Extreme weather events that threaten grid stability.

These factors undermine reliability and hinder the state’s transition to clean energy. To ensure a resilient, efficient, and sustainable energy future, Washington must modernize its transmission system.

The Solution HB 1673 establishes an Office of Electric Transmission as an independent entity to lead planning, development, and coordination of critical transmission projects.

Why It Matters

✅ Enhanced Grid Reliability – Reduces outages and ensures consistent energy delivery.
✅ Supports Clean Energy Transition – Expands capacity for renewable energy integration.
✅ Economic Growth & Job Creation – Drives investment in energy infrastructure and local employment.
✅ Climate Resilience – Strengthens the grid against extreme weather and climate-related disruptions.

Bill 1819: Increasing Transmission Capacity

Summary: House Bill 1819 aims to enhance Washington State's electrical transmission infrastructure. The bill seeks to modify existing laws and create incentives for electrical utilities to expand and upgrade their transmission networks, thereby improving the reliability and efficiency of power delivery across the state.

Key Provisions:

• Infrastructure Expansion: Encourages utilities to invest in new transmission lines and upgrade existing ones to meet growing energy demands.

• Provides a categorical exemption from SEPA for certain upgrades and rebuilds of electric powerlines and requires a review for resources in the rights-of-way for such categorical exemptions.

• Assessment for Reconductoring: Requires electric utilities with more than 25,000 customers to evaluate where reconductoring would yield meaningful improvements to the grid, determine the owner of such facilities, and document known efforts by that owner to increase transmission capacity.

• Incentive Programs: Introduces financial incentives for utilities that adopt advanced technologies and practices to enhance transmission capacity. Authorizes the UTC to allow an incentive rate of return on electric utility investments in reconductoring and grid-enhancing technologies for 15 years and to adopt additional incentives to encourage increased deployment of transmission improvements.

• Implications: If enacted, HB 1819 is expected to bolster the state's energy infrastructure, accommodating increased demand and integrating renewable energy sources more effectively. This could lead to improved grid reliability and support Washington's clean energy goals.