Councilmember Joe Burns Steadfast in Opposition to Proposed Battery Energy Storage Facility East of Sedro-Woolley
- Campaign News
- Oct 5
- 3 min read
SEDRO-WOOLLEY, Wash. — City Councilmember Joe Burns has been a steadfast and outspoken opponent of the proposed Goldeneye Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) facility planned just east of Sedro-Woolley. From the day the project was first introduced, Burns has voiced deep concern about the risks it poses to the community and environment, especially given what he describes as a complete lack of safety planning by the original developer.
The proposal was initially brought forward by Tenaska, a Nebraska-based energy company. When representatives from Tenaska met with the Sedro-Woolley City Council in 2023, Burns says he was alarmed by their inability to provide even a basic safety plan.
“Locating a massive battery facility next to a salmon-bearing creek with no safety plan in place is completely unacceptable,” Burns said. “When Tenaska met with us, it was clear they hadn’t prepared even the basics of how to protect the community or the environment.”
After Tenaska abandoned the project, it was revived under new ownership by Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP), a Danish investment group known for large-scale renewable energy developments. Burns made it clear that the name change did not change the danger.
“Whether it’s Tenaska or Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, the danger to our community hasn’t changed,” Burns said. “The risks are the same. We are talking about a massive industrial energy storage site in the wrong location, without adequate planning for fire suppression, environmental protection, or emergency response.”
City, Tribe, and County United in Opposition
Earlier this year, the Sedro-Woolley City Council voted unanimously to enact a moratorium on battery energy storage facilities within city limits. The council also signed a formal letter to the Washington State Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC) opposing the Goldeneye BESS project.
The letter, submitted by the city’s legal counsel on March 19, 2025, outlined numerous procedural and ethical problems with the EFSEC process, including insufficient public notice, potential conflicts of interest, and inadequate engagement with local governments and tribes. The city’s attorneys argued that the process violated state law and the appearance of fairness doctrine, calling it “arbitrary and capricious.”
Burns praised the Upper Skagit Tribe and Skagit County for their coordinated opposition to the project, emphasizing that the proposed site is located near sensitive waterways that support local salmon populations.
A Record of Action and Collaboration
Throughout the process, Councilmember Burns has taken concrete steps to protect Sedro-Woolley residents and the surrounding environment. He has:
• Voted for the city’s moratorium on large-scale battery energy storage facilities.• Signed the city’s letter to EFSEC opposing the project.• Signed onto the joint letter from Mayor Julia Johnson to Governor Bob Ferguson, reaffirming Sedro-Woolley’s opposition to the Goldeneye BESS project and urging the state to reject its siting east of town.• Advocated for the city to coordinate with Skagit County and the Upper Skagit Tribe in a unified regional response.• Pushed for Sedro-Woolley to seek “intervener status” when that option becomes available, ensuring the city has a direct voice in state-level proceedings.• Consistently questioned the lack of safety protocols and environmental protections during council discussions and public meetings.
These actions reflect Burns’s consistent position that Sedro-Woolley must prioritize public safety, environmental stewardship, and transparent government when reviewing major energy projects.
Burns: “This Is About Protecting Our Town”
“I support energy innovation,” Burns said. “But no project should put our residents or our salmon streams at risk. Sedro-Woolley deserves smart, safe energy planning, not a rushed industrial experiment placed next to our community.”
For more information:Visit the City of Sedro-Woolley’s official Goldeneye BESS page: https://www.sedro-woolley.gov/community/goldeneye_bess.php
Additional Resources
To learn more about the state review process and community participation in energy facility siting, visit:
Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC)
Washington Attorney General – Counsel for the Environment (CFE)
Skagit County Planning and Environmental Services
https://www.skagitcounty.net/Departments/PlanningAndDevelopment/main.htm
