Welcome to Skagit County

May 14, 2026

Request for Comments on Scope of Environmental Impact Statement for Clean Energy Siting and Permitting Project

Skagit County Planning and Development Services has received a grant through the Washington State Department of Commerce to develop local clean energy development regulations and prepare a programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). This EIS will evaluate where different types of clean energy projects can be appropriately sited, as well as assess their potential impacts and identify appropriate mitigation measures. Skagit County has identified the following goals for the project:

Retain local control over clean energy permitting where possible;
Establish clear and consistent standards for project proponents and the public, and;
Ensure that future clean energy development considers community values, environmental impacts, and mitigation strategies informed by public and Tribal input.

Skagit County is in the process of preparing the programmatic EIS and is soliciting public comment on the scope of the project. The project proposal will study energy uses including solar energy, battery energy storage, small modular reactors, and renewable fuel facilities. The purpose of scoping is to narrow the focus of the EIS to include significant environmental issues, eliminate insignificant impacts from detailed study, and identify alternatives to be analyzed in the EIS.

The two alternatives to be evaluated in the EIS are Action and No Action.

A No Action alternative evaluates how energy development for solar energy facilities, battery energy storage facilities, small nuclear reactors, and renewable fuel facilities would occur within Skagit County based on the current development regulations with no changes. The development code standards and permitting processes currently established in Skagit County would be carried forward.
An Action alternative evaluates potentially significant environmental impacts for solar energy facilities, battery energy storage facilities, small nuclear reactors, and renewable fuel facilities. The impacts associated with these uses will be assessed to determine appropriate locations, zones, significant adverse impacts, and mitigation and minimization measures. Where deemed appropriate, county permitting processes may be modified to streamline the local permitting pathway and provide clear development standards with known mitigation measures.

More information on the clean energy siting and permitting project and the Request for Comments on Scope of Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) can be found on our website: www.skagitcounty.net/CESP

How to Submit Comments
The 30-day comment period is open from May 14, 2026, to June 16, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. Written comments may be submitted by the following means:

Online Comments may be submitted via email to pdscomments@co.skagit.wa.us with the subject line: “Energy Siting and Permitting EIS Scoping Comment”.

Written Comments may be mailed or dropped off to the following address:
Skagit County Planning and Development Services
1800 Continental Place
Mount Vernon, WA 98273

After reviewing the comments received during the scoping period, Skagit County will finalize the alternatives and elements of the built and natural environment to be analyzed under the EIS.

EIS Scoping Open Houses
Skagit County Planning and Development Services will be hosting three open house events to provide project background and information for those interested in learning more about the project and offer the opportunity to submit comments on the scope.

Each open house is a walk-in style with engagement activities and educational posters. Skagit County staff and other experts will be available to answer questions about the project and how the community can be involved throughout the next year. The open houses will be taking place on the following dates and locations:

June 9
Anacortes Depot Arts and Community Center
611 R Avenue, Anacortes, WA 98221
1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Skagit County Administration Building
1800 Continental Place, Mount Vernon, WA 98273
5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

June 10
Concrete Community Center
45821 Railroad Ave, Concrete, WA 98237
5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

If you have any questions, please contact Robby Eckroth, Senior Planner, at reckroth@co.skagit.wa.us or at (360) 416-1328.

The Clean Energy Siting and Planning Grant is supported with funding from Washington’s Climate Commitment Act. The CCA supports Washington’s climate action efforts by putting cap-and-invest dollars to work reducing climate pollution, creating jobs, and improving public health. Information about the CCA is available at www.climate.wa.gov