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• Introduced by Sen. Jim Honeyford, (R-Sunnyside) (R) on January 14, 2009, amends land use regulations to include energy overlay zones, defined as formal plans enacted by counties which establish suitable areas for siting renewable resource projects based on currently available resources and existing infrastructure with sensitivity to adverse environmental impacs .
  • Referred to the Senate Environment, Water & Energy Committee on January 14, 2009.
    • Referred to the Senate Rules Committee on January 27, 2009.
• Passed in the Senate (46 to 0) on January 30, 2009. [Vote Details and Comments]
• Received in the House on February 2, 2009.
  • Referred to the House Technology, Energy, and Communications Committee on February 2, 2009.
    • Amendment offered in the House on March 23, 2009, to require that a county ordinance for energy overlay zones must be consistent with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's wind power guidelines. The amendment failed in the House by voice vote on March 23, 2009.
  • Referred to the House Rules Committee on April 6, 2009.
    • Amendment offered by Rep. Jeff Morris, (D-Mt. Vernon) (D) on April 7, 2009, to provide an additional process for land use decisions made by a local jurisdiction concerning wind energy power generation projects within a county energy overlay zone to be presumed reasonable under the land use petition act. Specifies that a wind power generation project is considered reasonable if a local jurisdiction prepares an environmental impact statement on the energy overlay zone and certain local ordinances have been adopted that mitigate environmental impacts, to analyze site specific fish and wildlife and cultural issues, and address critical areas as required by the growth management act. The amendment passed in the House by voice vote on April 7, 2009.
• Passed in the House (98 to 0) on April 7, 2009. [Vote Details and Comments]
• Received in the Senate on April 22, 2009, Senate agrees to House amendments. Passed in the Senate (48 to 0) on April 22, 2009. [Vote Details and Comments]
• Signed by Gov. Christine Gregoire on May 8, 2009, judicial standards for granting relief under LUPA are revised to provide that land use decisions establishing renewable resource projects within a county energy overlay zone are presumed to be reasonable to the extent that they are in compliance with requirements and standards established by ordinance for that zone. "Energy overlay zone" and "renewable resources" are defined in specific terms. House amendments specify additional requirements for land use decisions concerning wind power projects and provide guidelines for what requirements must govern city, county or town land use decisions regarding environmental impact and state environmental policy within a county energy overlay zone.