House passes Rep. Stephanie Barnard’s bill to strengthen Washington’s power grid
CONTACT: Jennifer Hansen, Senior Public Information Officer | 360-786-7720
House passes Rep. Stephanie Barnard’s bill to strengthen Washington’s power grid
The Washington State House of Representatives has unanimously approved legislation sponsored by Rep. Stephanie Barnard, R-Pasco, to upgrade the state’s electric grid and enhance transmission capacity. House Bill 1819 now advances to the Senate for further consideration.
Barnard’s bill seeks to streamline upgrades to existing powerlines by removing unnecessary regulatory delays while ensuring that environmental and tribal protections remain in place. It also incentivizes utilities to invest in modern transmission technology to improve reliability and efficiency.
“Our energy grid is outdated and struggling to keep up with demand,” said Barnard. “This bill takes a practical approach to upgrading infrastructure by cutting red tape and encouraging innovation while still respecting environmental and cultural considerations. I’m proud to see such strong bipartisan support for a solution that benefits every Washingtonian.”
Under the bill, certain powerline upgrades and reconductoring projects would be exempt from the State Environmental Policy Act if they stay within existing rights-of-way. However, utilities would still be required to notify the Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (DAHP) and consult with federally recognized tribes before beginning work.
“This is about making sure Washington families and businesses have reliable electricity,” Barnard added. “If we don’t act now to strengthen our grid, we’ll see more power disruptions and higher costs down the road. This bill makes smart, targeted investments to prevent that.”
House Bill 1819 also allows the Utilities and Transportation Commission to provide an incentive rate of return for utilities investing in grid-enhancing technologies and advanced transmission upgrades. This ensures utilities have the financial ability to make critical improvements that benefit ratepayers.
“The power demand is only growing, and we need to be prepared,” said Barnard. “This bill helps ensure Washington has a modern, efficient energy grid that can support our economy and communities for years to come. The fact that it passed unanimously shows just how important and necessary these upgrades are.”
HB 1819 now moves to the Senate for further consideration.
