Puget Sound Energy (PSE) has announced two major 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, which 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 could generate up to 342 MW of energy to support PSE’s commitment to diversify its mix of renewable resources and meet the state’s Clean Energy Transformation Act (CETA) goals.
Since the approval of CETA in 2019, PSE has added more than 3,800 MW of renewable energy sources to its resource mix. More than half (2,033 MW) of this comes from new sources from 11 projects built to meet the energy needs of our customers.
Appaloosa solar project
The Appaloosa Solar Project will be built within the existing footprint of the PSE Lower Snake River Wind Facility 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 utilize existing transmission rights and infrastructure. This strategic approach minimizes local impact and project costs.
The Appaloosa Solar Project will contribute 4% to PSE’s 2030 clean energy goals and help meet peak summer demand. It will create employment for approximately 300 workers during construction, using community labor or project labor contracts. Where available, local and diverse suppliers will also be involved, promoting economic development in the region.
“We are excited to offer our customers clean, reliable utility-scale solar energy, especially during the summer months when cooling demand is high,” said Ron Roberts, PSE senior VP of energy resources. “This project demonstrates our commitment to a low-carbon future and advances our efforts to achieve Washington State’s ambitious clean energy goals.”
Construction of the Appaloosa Solar Project will be carried out by Qcells USA, which is providing the full renewable value chain and turnkey services for the project, including acting as project developer, module manufacturer and engineering procurement construction (EPC) provider for the site. Construction is scheduled to start in 2025, with an expected commercial operation date of December 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 offering education and tours of the facility once it is completed.
Greenwater project (battery energy storage system).
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 allow PSE to serve approximately 70,000 residential customers on cold winter days and approximately 100,000 customers on warm summer days.
Battery storage systems are designed to store excess energy generated by wind and solar farms and release it to the electricity grid during periods of high demand.
“We are investing in technologies such as battery storage that can support a continuous and reliable supply of clean energy to our customers,” said Craig Pospisil, PSE VP of Business Development and M&A. “Battery storage projects like Greenwater help us harness the renewable energy we generate while ensuring the electricity grid remains reliable during extreme temperatures and times of peak demand.”
BrightNight will design and install the facility, which uses lithium-ion batteries. BrightNight worked for two years with the City of Sumner and other local agencies to secure the conditional use permit and meet the requirements of the Washington State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA). Energy from the facility is fed to the White River Substation and then distributed to the electrical grid as needed. The project is expected to be operational by mid-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 serve and manage peak demand and are playing an increasingly important role in how we achieve our clean energy goals and comply with CETA.
News item from PSE
