Comprehensive Plans: Why our local counties and cities are asking for public comments now.

Benton and Franklin County and each city are working on updating their comprehensive plans, including adding a climate element. They are based on the BF Regional Plan. The plans are due December 2026, and will guide decision-making, regulations, and investments towards meeting community goals over the coming 20 years. Comments from the public on the draft plan are due around the end of June. Sustainable Tri-Cities members compiled this list of comments to get you started on submitting your own. Learn more and submit your comments here:

Pasco Comprehensive Plan. Contents of the plan Here. Email comments Carmen Patrick Pasco C & E Development Administrative assistant.  

Richland Comprehensive Plan update Send comments to Mike Stevens, Planning Manager.

Kennewick Comprehensive Plan  Send comments to matt.Halitsky@ci.kennewick.wa.us    

Benton County Comprehensive Plan Updates.   Use planning.department@co.benton.wa.us to send a comment and to add your email address so future notices are sent directly to you.

West Richland Comprehensive Plan Email comments to  Eric Mendenhall .

Comments for the Benton County Comprehensive Plan, climate element 2026

The Benton County objective is to achieve consistency with the GMA during the updating of the comprehensive plans for the county and the jurisdictions contained within it.

The regional plan was specific about the definitions of the words must, will, shall, should and may. We appreciate the use of these words that show a stronger commitment to change than using the word “encourage”.

Why does Benton County need more energy?

• Electrical utilities above all desire to keep the lights on for their customers
• To meet additional electrical demand from anticipated population and economic growth
• To meet additional electrical demand from anticipated agriculture, and industrial growth
• EVs and data centers add sudden urgency to the need for additional electrical power
• Changing hydropower availability patterns due to changing precipitation patterns

Why does Benton County need more clean energy?

• First, what is clean energy?  No fossil fuels, no excess Green House Gas emissions, no pollutants. The term usually refers to solar, wind, and geothermal energy (renewables). Nuclear energy is almost clean, and so is hydropower also clean, by this definition
• To meet state climate commitments
• To reduce GHG emissions as required by the amended WA state growth management act.
• Because electrification of transportation and heating systems is so important for reducing GHG emissions, adding carbon-free energy is essential to achieving emissions reduction goals.
• The large growth in demand for electricity predicted by 2050 is primary due to statewide vehicular electrification and data storage proliferation. WA will flip from being a net electricity exporter to an energy importer. This exacerbates the need for massive investments in transmission build out.
• Non-carbon emitting nuclear and hydropower are ideal to keep up base load           
• Renewables have potential to be dispersed energy as well as point-source
• Clean energy is now as inexpensive as traditional fossil fuels and are far more desirable
• Additional benefits: will keep pollution down in an increasingly urbanized part of Benton County, and Benton County could be clean and renewable energy production powerhouse

What energy sources is Benton County particularly positioned to develop?

• Renewables: land, wind, and sun
• Nuclear: expertise and industry
• Water sources (Columbia River) is also key

What’s missing?

• For point sources, a more developed power grid (a.k.a. smart grid) and other grid improvements, i.e. additional substations
• Improve efficiencies: load balancing (can the energy portfolio be balanced rather than top-heavy), micro-grids, waste mining for re-use/up-cycling.
• Streamline permitting processes while ensuring local participation in siting decisions.
• Explore emerging technologies (geothermal) and battery storage (has much advanced)
• Flexibility in siting:
  -It doesn’t have to mean taking valuable farm land
  -Clarify what is meant by “quality of life for local communities”
  -Need better transparency in siting decisions for both power plants and data centers. Find a balance between companies’ need for secrecy in property acquisition, and the community’s need for information and input. Is transparency addressed in the draft plan?
• Advocate for a requirement for clean energy to power needs of data centers
• Wildfire and smoke management – The regional plan includes some good ideas – need to incorporate onto the Benton County plan, for health and to reduce damage to valuable grape crop.
• We need a County Waste management facility. Benton County’s new Hazard Household Waste Facility could  be the start of a sorely needed regional waste management strategy.

Comments for the Cities

Transportation

• The BF COG comprehensive plan guidelines show that for Richland, Kennewick and Pasco, the #1 source of GHG emissions is building gas, and the #2 is transportation.
• Need EV infrastructure charging for travelers (level 3) and apartment dwellers (level 2, far cheaper).
• EV education for public, dealers, and fleet managers.
• reduce vehicle miles traveled i.e. carpool, more transit, work longer but fewer days,
• Bike/walk infrastructure
• Zoning- increase density.

Carbon Free Energy

• Natural gas is our region’s second biggest emission. No natural gas in any new construction.
• Building retrofits: conversion to electric, and weatherization. Use “energy star” appliances, building management and materials.
• Other: see county under “What’s Missing”

Tree Care

Grow drought and heat tolerant trees; water them, not lawns. Good for health and quality of life, reduces heat.                                  

Wildfire and wildfire smoke

• need resilience hubs
• encourage& offer filters in homes
• limit use of fireplaces, including gas

Education and workforce development

• Youth programs
• Educate about health impacts of climate change, i.e. outdoor workers, unhoused, aging and vulnerable population, underemployed, food chain.
• Career training for ‘green’ employment