Project Overview
The Energize Eastside EIS was led by the City of Bellevue in cooperation with the partner cities of Kirkland, Newcastle, Redmond, and Renton. The EIS provided environmental review under the Washington State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) of PSE’s proposed Energize Eastside project. Although PSE conducted extensive outreach on the project, the SEPA process was a separate requirement that must be completed before any permits may be issued.
What is the Energize Eastside Project?
Energize Eastside is PSE’s proposal to build a new electric substation and approximately 18 miles of high capacity electric transmission lines from Redmond to Renton. The project is intended to address an electrical transmission capacity deficiency. Learn more about PSE’s proposal for the Energize Eastside project at PSE's project website: www.energizeeastside.com.
What is an EIS?
A SEPA EIS is an evaluation of potential adverse environmental impacts associated with a proposed project and project alternatives. It also presents design and construction measures that would eliminate or reduce the likely environmental impacts of the project. The Energize Eastside EIS is a legally-mandated document that complies with requirements of SEPA, the Washington Administrative Code, the Revised Code of Washington and the Bellevue Environmental Procedures Code. The Energize Eastside EIS is not a permit--it is one of many sets of information permitting agencies will consider as they decide whether to approve the project and issue necessary permits.
What is the Process for the Energize Eastside EIS?
The Energize Eastside EIS took place in two phases. Phase 1 focused on the programmatic aspects of the project. Programmatic aspects included issues such as whether or not the type of project PSE proposed was the best way to improve electrical grid reliability for Eastside communities, and what other types of solutions should be explored. Phase 2 focused on a more specific and detailed review of alternatives and focused on project design and construction.
Each phase began with a scoping process to determine the specific project alternatives and aspects of the environment that should be studied in detail in the EIS. A thorough analysis of each alternative and their likely impacts is documented in a Draft EIS for each phase. The Draft EIS for each phase also lists measures that would eliminate or reduce the likely environmental impacts of the alternatives evaluated. A public comment period was held after each Draft EIS was published. The Final EIS responds to public and agency comments on both the Phase 1 and Phase 2 Draft EISs.
Phase 1 began in April 2015 with issuance of a “determination of significance” for the Energize Eastside project by the City of Bellevue. A 45-day Public Scoping Comment Period was held from April 30 to June 15, 2015 to obtain input on the content of the Phase 1 Draft EIS. During this time, public comments were collected at five scoping meetings and via email, mail and an online form on this website. The Phase 1 Draft EIS Scoping Comment Report provides a record of these comments. The comments received were reviewed and used as the basis for determining the alternatives that were studied in the Phase 1 Draft EIS. The Phase 1 Draft EIS was issued on January 28, 2016. Public comments were accepted on this document through March 14, 2016. The Phase 1 Draft EIS Comment Record is a compilation of these comments, which were reviewed and used to develop the alternatives proposed for consideration during Phase 2 Scoping. A Phase I Comment Summary Report was also prepared which summarizes comments submitted and provides a brief response. Note that the Final EIS provides a response to all public and agency comments received during this phase of the EIS.
A Phase 2 Scoping Notice was issued April 14, 2016. Public scoping comments were accepted through May 31, 2016 to help the City of Bellevue and the partner cities identify project-level alternatives and elements of the environment to be studied in the Phase 2 Draft EIS. A Phase 2 Scoping Comment Summary Report and a Phase 2 Scoping Comment Record for comments submitted between April 14 and May 31 are available on the Library page.
On June 30, 2016 a second Phase 2 Scoping Notice was issued to reopen Phase 2 Scoping and to accept public scoping comments through August 1, 2016. The scoping period was reopened to allow the public to review and comment on new alternatives proposed by PSE. Following the close of the reopened scoping period, a Reopened Phase 2 Scoping Comment Summary Report and Reopened Phase 2 Scoping Comment Record were prepared and posted on the Library Page. A Phase 2 Draft EIS Scope of Analysis Report outlining alternatives and topics to be studied in the Phase 2 Draft EIS was also completed.
The Phase 2 Draft EIS public comment period opened on May 8th and ended on July 6, 2017. Following the close of the comment period the project team began preparation of the Final EIS.
The Final EIS was published on March 1, 2018 and is available on the Library page. It provides a response to public and agency comments received during Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the EIS. The Energize Eastside EIS process is now complete.
The phases of the Energize Eastside EIS are shown below.
What is the Energize Eastside Project?
Energize Eastside is PSE’s proposal to build a new electric substation and approximately 18 miles of high capacity electric transmission lines from Redmond to Renton. The project is intended to address an electrical transmission capacity deficiency. Learn more about PSE’s proposal for the Energize Eastside project at PSE's project website: www.energizeeastside.com.
What is an EIS?
A SEPA EIS is an evaluation of potential adverse environmental impacts associated with a proposed project and project alternatives. It also presents design and construction measures that would eliminate or reduce the likely environmental impacts of the project. The Energize Eastside EIS is a legally-mandated document that complies with requirements of SEPA, the Washington Administrative Code, the Revised Code of Washington and the Bellevue Environmental Procedures Code. The Energize Eastside EIS is not a permit--it is one of many sets of information permitting agencies will consider as they decide whether to approve the project and issue necessary permits.
What is the Process for the Energize Eastside EIS?
The Energize Eastside EIS took place in two phases. Phase 1 focused on the programmatic aspects of the project. Programmatic aspects included issues such as whether or not the type of project PSE proposed was the best way to improve electrical grid reliability for Eastside communities, and what other types of solutions should be explored. Phase 2 focused on a more specific and detailed review of alternatives and focused on project design and construction.
Each phase began with a scoping process to determine the specific project alternatives and aspects of the environment that should be studied in detail in the EIS. A thorough analysis of each alternative and their likely impacts is documented in a Draft EIS for each phase. The Draft EIS for each phase also lists measures that would eliminate or reduce the likely environmental impacts of the alternatives evaluated. A public comment period was held after each Draft EIS was published. The Final EIS responds to public and agency comments on both the Phase 1 and Phase 2 Draft EISs.
Phase 1 began in April 2015 with issuance of a “determination of significance” for the Energize Eastside project by the City of Bellevue. A 45-day Public Scoping Comment Period was held from April 30 to June 15, 2015 to obtain input on the content of the Phase 1 Draft EIS. During this time, public comments were collected at five scoping meetings and via email, mail and an online form on this website. The Phase 1 Draft EIS Scoping Comment Report provides a record of these comments. The comments received were reviewed and used as the basis for determining the alternatives that were studied in the Phase 1 Draft EIS. The Phase 1 Draft EIS was issued on January 28, 2016. Public comments were accepted on this document through March 14, 2016. The Phase 1 Draft EIS Comment Record is a compilation of these comments, which were reviewed and used to develop the alternatives proposed for consideration during Phase 2 Scoping. A Phase I Comment Summary Report was also prepared which summarizes comments submitted and provides a brief response. Note that the Final EIS provides a response to all public and agency comments received during this phase of the EIS.
A Phase 2 Scoping Notice was issued April 14, 2016. Public scoping comments were accepted through May 31, 2016 to help the City of Bellevue and the partner cities identify project-level alternatives and elements of the environment to be studied in the Phase 2 Draft EIS. A Phase 2 Scoping Comment Summary Report and a Phase 2 Scoping Comment Record for comments submitted between April 14 and May 31 are available on the Library page.
On June 30, 2016 a second Phase 2 Scoping Notice was issued to reopen Phase 2 Scoping and to accept public scoping comments through August 1, 2016. The scoping period was reopened to allow the public to review and comment on new alternatives proposed by PSE. Following the close of the reopened scoping period, a Reopened Phase 2 Scoping Comment Summary Report and Reopened Phase 2 Scoping Comment Record were prepared and posted on the Library Page. A Phase 2 Draft EIS Scope of Analysis Report outlining alternatives and topics to be studied in the Phase 2 Draft EIS was also completed.
The Phase 2 Draft EIS public comment period opened on May 8th and ended on July 6, 2017. Following the close of the comment period the project team began preparation of the Final EIS.
The Final EIS was published on March 1, 2018 and is available on the Library page. It provides a response to public and agency comments received during Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the EIS. The Energize Eastside EIS process is now complete.
The phases of the Energize Eastside EIS are shown below.
When Can I Comment?
Four public comment periods were held for the Energize Eastside EIS, the last of which ended on July 6, 2017. There are no further opportunities to comment on the EIS.
Following publication of the Final EIS, PSE will need to obtain land use and construction permits from each of the five jurisdictions where the Energize Eastside project is proposed to be built: Bellevue, Newcastle, Renton, Redmond and unincorporated King County. PSE would not need permits from the City of Kirkland since no part of the proposed project would be built within its boundaries. Each of the five jurisdictions has their own permitting process that includes opportunities for public comment.
Click here to read a handout with information on the local permitting processes.