SSB 5165 — Concerning electric power system transmission planning.

What this bill does

Requires electric utility Integrated Resource Plans (IRPs) to include a 20-year, rather than 10-year, forecast of the availability and requirements for regional generation and transmission capacity, and adds to IRP transmission assessment requirements. Requires electric utilities to consider conditional firm transmission services when selecting and acquiring renewable resources. Requires electric utilities to seek support from federal, interstate, and industry entities to plan and develop transmission capacity, and encourages utilities to engage in statewide, multiutility, and interstate transmission planning processes. Directs the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC) to oversee the siting of transmission facilities that are at least 500,000 volts alternating current or at least 300,000 volts direct current, and are located in more than one county and one electric utility service territory. Directs the EFSEC to coordinate state agency environmental review for federally-proposed or sited transmission projects.

From the Washington State Legislature's nonpartisan staff bill analysis. Read the full analysis ↗

Floor votes

• House — Final Passage as Amended by the House · April 5, 2023
  70 yea · 28 nay
• Senate — Final Passage as Amended by the House · April 14, 2023
  36 yea · 10 nay · 3 not voting
• Senate — 3rd Reading & Final Passage · March 2, 2023
  36 yea · 13 nay

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