Puget Sound Energy adds two new clean energy projects in Washington
September 24 2024 - 12:00PM
Puget Sound Energy (PSE) is proud to announce two large projects in
Washington state that will help add more clean energy to its
portfolio.
The first is the development of a utility-scale solar facility
known as Appaloosa Solar Project that PSE will own and operate. The
second is a power purchase agreement signed with BrightNight for a
Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) known as the Greenwater
project.
Together, the projects can generate up to 342 MW of energy to
help PSE's commitment to diversify its renewable resource mix and
meet the state's Clean Energy Transformation Act (CETA)
targets.
Since the passage of CETA in 2019, PSE has added more than 3,800
MW of renewable energy resources to its resource mix. More than
half (2,033 MW) of that comes from new resources from 11 projects
built to serve the energy needs of our customers.
Appaloosa Solar Project
The Appaloosa Solar Project will be built within the existing
PSE Lower Snake River Wind Facility footprint in Garfield County,
and will be capable of generating 142 MW of clean energy, enough to
power more than 30,000 homes. The project will leverage existing
transmission rights and infrastructure. This strategic approach
minimizes local impacts and project costs.
The Appaloosa Solar Project will contribute 4% towards PSE's
2030 clean energy targets and help meet peak demand during the
summer. It will create employment opportunities for approximately
300 workers during construction with community workforce or project
labor agreements being utilized. It will also include local and
diverse suppliers when available, promoting economic development in
the region.
"We're excited to bring clean, reliable utility-scale solar
energy to our customers, especially during peak summer months when
cooling demand is high," said Ron Roberts, senior vice president of
Energy Resources. "This project demonstrates our commitment to a
low-carbon future and advances our efforts to meet Washington
state's ambitious clean energy goals."
Construction on the Appaloosa Solar Project will be done by
Qcells USA which is providing full renewable value chain and
turnkey services on the project including serving as the project
developer, module manufacturer and engineering procurement
construction (EPC) provider of the site. Construction is scheduled
to begin in 2025 with a commercial operation date expected in
December of 2026.
Garfield County granted the Appaloosa Solar Project their
conditional use permit this summer, following three public meetings
and two years of community engagement by Qcells on the project. PSE
has a long-standing relationship with the local community and is
committed to providing education and tour opportunities at the
facility once completed.
Greenwater (Battery Energy Storage System)
Project
PSE is investing in a battery storage system to better manage
peak electricity demand, avoid the need for additional generation
infrastructure and provide a more reliable and efficient energy
supply to its customers. The Greenwater project will be located
near Sumner and will make it possible for PSE to serve
approximately 70,000 residential customers on cold winter days and
100,000 customers on hot summer days.
Battery storage systems are designed to store excess energy
generated by wind and solar farms, and release it to the grid
during periods of high demand.
"We’re investing in technologies like battery storage that can
support a continuous and reliable supply of clean energy to our
customers,” said Craig Pospisil, PSE vice president of Business
Development and M&A. “Battery storage projects like Greenwater
help us harness the renewable energy we generate while ensuring the
grid remains reliable during extreme temperatures and times of peak
demand.”
BrightNight will design and install the facility, using
lithium-ion batteries, which are used in mobile phones and electric
cars, and housed in secure, temperature-controlled enclosures.
BrightNight worked with the city of Sumner and other local agencies
for two years to secure the Conditional Use Permit and to satisfy
requirements of Washington’s State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA).
Energy from the facility will be fed to the White River Substation
and then distributed onto the grid as needed. The project is
scheduled to be operational by mid-year 2027.
PSE plans to add approximately 1,500 MW of battery storage
capacity by 2030. These systems are an important part of PSE’s
plans to effectively operate and manage peak demand and play an
increasingly important role in how we meet our clean energy goals
and comply with CETA.
Andrew Padula
Puget Sound Energy
888-831-7250
psenewsroom@pse.com