Information Study for Pumped Storage Hydropower Siting

Meetings

Presentation slides, recordings, and meeting summaries of past meetings of WSU’s Pumped Storage Hydropower (PSH) Siting Study can be found below. Each meeting provided at least a short overview of the Siting Study process and background, and then focused on different topics concerning PSH. Please note that as the study progressed, some of the Study’s process and scheduled topics changed from earlier meetings.

June 13, 2024 Introductory Webinar

This meeting introduced participants to the Siting Study process, provided background on the Washington State Legislative bill that mandated it, and gave a brief overview of the concept and technology of PSH. Also included was information about the National Research Energy Laboratory’s assessment of theoretical PSH sites in the U.S.

• Meeting summary
• Meeting slides
• Video-recording

September 11, 2024 Online Public Meeting

Cultural resource considerations and a closer look at PSH were the focus of the September 11 2024 public meeting. The presentation on PSH included a deeper look at the technology and components, differences between closed-loop and open-loop PSH, benefits and resources affected, existing and proposed PSH in the U.S., and a brief look at federal regulations. The slides include links to documents for more information about PSH.

Social, legal, and policy history related to Tribal cultural resources was presented, as well as differences and overlap of cultural resources vs cultural wealth. The speaker provided an understanding of Tribal sovereignty, and described the interaction of certain policies with cultural resources.

• Meeting agenda
• Meeting summary
• Meeting slides
• Video-recording

October 9, 2024 Online Public Meeting

Presentations at the October 9, 2024 meeting looked at the potential effects and mitigation of closed-loop PSH construction and operation on aquatic ecology, water quality, and water quantity. A very-high level overview of water law and water rights in Washington State was presented for a discussion about water availability for PSH reservoirs.

• Meeting summary
• Meeting slides
• Video-recording
  (Breakout sessions not recorded.)

October 31, 2024 Online Public Meeting

Topics presented at the Halloween meeting included potential effects and possible mitigation from PSH on wildlife and habitat, as well as how air quality, noise levels, and public access are affected. The importance of geological and geotechnical studies was discussed as well.

• Meeting summary
• Meeting slides
• Video-recording

December 4, 2024 Online Public Meeting

The December 4, 2024 meeting focused on understanding the federal permitting and licensing processes for PSH, the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.

• Meeting summary
• Meeting slides
• Video-recording

January 23, 2025 Online Public Meeting

The next and last statewide public meeting for the PSH Siting Study is January 23, 2025. Register for the January 23 meeting