At the April 2026 EFSEC meeting, the state is pushing forward on major energy infrastructure, clearing significant pre-construction hurdles for the massive Horse Heaven project, including legally binding plans to track local pronghorn antelope. We're also breaking down averted state budget cuts, new legal rules for authentic tribal consultation, and what the latest environmental scoping means for local transmission lines.

In This Episode:

• The Cascade Renewable Transmission project hits a major environmental review milestone.
• A deep dive into how wildlife mitigation actually works on the ground for solar projects.
• Good news for the agency's budget and technical hiring freeze.
• New state laws changing how the council conducts government-to-government tribal consultation.
• Brief updates on the Columbia, Hop Hill, and Wallula Gap solar sites.

Resources & Links:

• Read the full written Dispatch at skamaniadispatch.com
• Text of Bill SHB 2496
• Horse Heaven Clean Energy Center
• Read the full April 15 meeting packet and agenda, and watch the full video at EFSEC's website.

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