Address: 117 Legislative Modular Building * PO Box 40408 * Olympia, WA 98504

Olympia Office: (360) 786-7614 * Toll Free Hotline: (800) 562-6000 * E-mail: Matt.Boehnke@leg.wa.gov

Nov. 27, 2024

Brewing Change

Coffee with Sen Boehnke

As I prepare for the 2025 legislative session, I want to hear your concerns, ideas and questions, so I can better serve the people of the 8th Legislative District.

I invite you to come grab a cup of coffee with me and let me know what’s important to you in the 8th district.

Join me for java on Saturday, Dec. 7 or Saturday, Dec. 14. You choose the date and I’ll buy the coffee. Nothing formal – just come on down. I’d love to hear from you, as well as answer any questions you might have about state government.

If you can’t be there, please send me an email at matt.boehnke@leg.wa.gov or call my assistant Virginia Hall at (360) 786-7614 and share with me your concerns.

If you don’t receive an postcard invitation, please let our office know and we’ll make sure to get you the details. It’s an honor to serve you and I look forward to connecting at one these coffee meetings.

Here are the three locations:

December 7
8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
The Arc of Tri-Cities
1455 Fowler Street
Richland, WA 99352

December 14
8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Port of Benton
3250 Port of Benton Blvd.
Richland, WA 99354

December 14
11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Columbia Basin
Veterans Center
1020 S. 7th Ave.
Pasco, WA 99301

EFSEC ignores 8th District concerns

On Nov. 20, the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council overrode Benton County’s farmland-preservation law and voted to recommend the governor’s recommended permit for solar project on 3,000 acres of agricultural land.

This is the second time the EFSEC has ignored the concerns of the 8th district. 

The Wautoma solar project, with a maximum capacity of 470 megawatts, would be one of Washington’s largest solar installations. It was opposed by the county, but the received little other opposition.

The project includes solar panels and batteries in a remote valley about 40 miles west of the Tri-Cities. According to landowners, declining aquifers are making farming less viable.

The company responsible is Innergex Renewable Energy, a Canadian firm, who plans to connect to a nearby Bonneville Power Administration transmission line. The EFSEC approved the project unanimously.

The county asked EFSEC to reject the project. Benton county opposes large-scale wind and solar projects on farmland. Previously, the county also opposed the larger Horse Heavens wind and solar project four miles from the Tri-Cities.

EFSEC acknowledged it was preempting the county’s land-use law, but decided the need for renewable energy was more important.

Innergex anticipates installing about 1.3 million panels, according to EFSEC documents. Each panel would be about 6 1/2-feet long and 4-feet wide. Innergex operates 89 renewable energy facilities in Canada, the U.S., France and Chile.

I believe the EFSEC’s process to approve site certification agreements did not properly account for local concerns and gave the governor too much decision-making power. To correct this, I plan to introduce a bill for the 2025 legislative session that improves the energy facility site evaluation process by removing the governor from the final stages of approval.

Virginia Hall joins the team

Earlier this year, my legislative assistant, Dinah Le Duc, left her position for another

Virginia Hall, a former legislative assistant for House of Representatives, has joined the team and will assist in accomplishing our 2025 goals.

Virginia comes with years of legislative experience and I’m very thankful to have her.

If you’d like to reach out to Virginia before the 2025 session begins, she can be reached at (360) 786-7614 or by email at virginia.hall@leg.wa.gov.

Welcome to the team Virginia!

Sen. Boehnke December Calendar

Dec. 2 | CAC DD Notebook Meeting

Dec. 3 | Mid-Columbia Children’s Museum

Dec. 5 | Energy and Future TC Initiatives

Dec. 6 | Legislative Luncheon hosted by Columbia Basin College and Walla Walla Community College

Dec. 10 | Technology Services Board (TSB) Full Board Meeting

Dec. 11 | Joint Higher Education Committee Meeting

Dec. 11 | New Grand Opening of the Newhouse building event

Dec. 12 | Senate Business, Financial Services, Gaming & Trade Committee

Dec. 17 | Legislative Panel Columbia Basin Non-Profit Association

Dec. 25 | Christmas