Washington State to study environmental impacts of battery storage

The Washington State Department of Ecology has announced plans to study and publish the potential environmental impacts of battery energy storage systems (BESS). The agency will prepare a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) to detail potential impacts and identify methods for avoidance or mitigation.

The study is intended to provide broad documentation for BESS planning under the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) rather than reviewing specific projects. It aims to establish a foundation for future project-level environmental reviews.

Ecology is currently in the scoping phase and is seeking public comment on the study's boundaries and goals. Comments are being accepted through October 1, 2026. Virtual meetings are scheduled for September 15 and September 23. A draft of the study is expected by June 30, 2027, with a final document planned for release in 2028.