What to know in Spokane County
Spokane County farms reported about 391,800 acres of cropland in 2022 (Census of Agriculture). Utility-scale projects need large, unshaded parcels near transmission lines, and the owner’s interest matters as much as the site.
In Washington, solar and wind projects can go through county permitting or opt into state review by the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC) under RCW 80.50.060; an EFSEC site certificate takes the place of local permits. At the county level, Spokane County Building & Planning decides whether a project is allowed outright or needs a conditional use permit. In Spokane County, a use listed as conditional needs a conditional use permit, with a public hearing before the Hearing Examiner.
For owners: developers usually start with a paid option (a study period) before a long-term lease. Have your own attorney review the rent, the term, decommissioning and land restoration, and how the project would affect any current-use tax classification on the land.
What to put in your inquiry
- Project type and size
- Acreage needed
- Option payment and study period
- Lease rent and term once built
- Decommissioning commitment
In the app, the Solar / wind template fills these in as [bracketed] prompts. Replace them with your details and send.