The Washington state Department of Ecology announced in a news release that it is leading a geothermal collaborative process to support Washington’s transition to clean energy.
The effort is bringing together the public, local governments, Tribes, state agencies, utilities and industries to explore opportunities and risks associated with developing geothermal energy in Washington, according to the release.
While there are no geothermal energy projects currently proposed for development in Washington, the process provides an opportunity for early discussions about this potential clean energy source, the release stated.
The Department of Ecology plans on sharing information and gathering feedback through a new series of in-person community workshops. The events will be held in areas identified by the Washington Geological Survey, housed within the Department of Natural Resources, as having geothermal energy potential: Mount Baker, Mount St. Helens and Wind River Valley south of Mount St. Helens.
The public is invited to the following workshops:
• Mount Baker area community — Thursday, Feb. 26, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
• Mount St. Helens area community — Wednesday, March 4, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
• Wind River Valley area community — Thursday, March 5, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Light food and drinks will be provided, and families are welcome to attend. Spanish language interpretation services will also be available.
In addition to the three community in-person workshops, a virtual statewide event is being conducted from 1 to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 17.
For more information on the virtual event, visit https://tinyurl.com/mtj7skfn.
