HB 2741
In CommitteeHouse
Electric transmission system
Concerning the electric transmission system.
This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
This bill creates the Washington electric transmission authority to expand and modernize the state’s power grid, improve reliability during extreme weather, and support access to clean energy. It establishes governance, funding, and operational rules—including labor and tribal consultation requirements—and creates two new state accounts to finance transmission projects.
- Creates the Washington electric transmission authority as a new public body to coordinate and support expansion and upgrades of the state’s electric transmission system.
- Establishes a 10-member board of directors appointed by the governor, state agencies, and tribal representatives to oversee the authority and hire an executive director by June 30, 2027.
- Requires the Department of Commerce to identify high-priority transmission corridors by October 30, 2027, and update the study every five years.
- Mandates that the authority prioritize partnerships on projects that increase access to renewable energy, serve multiple utility territories, or would not otherwise be built—using nonwire alternatives where feasible.
- Requires labor standards: all construction and maintenance must be done by qualified electrical employees or contractors using registered apprentices and prevailing wages.
- Creates a Tribal Clean Energy Partnership Work Group within the Department of Commerce to develop pathways for tribal participation in clean energy development, with a sunset date of June 1, 2028.
- Grants the authority powers including eminent domain (for transmission corridors), contracting, issuing bonds, and collecting application and local investment fees.
Who is affected
- Electric utilities — Utilities (investor-owned, consumer-owned, and public utilities) will be required to collaborate with the new authority on transmission projects and may be subject to new partnership requirements and fee structures.
- Local governments and federally recognized Indian tribes — Local governments (counties, cities, and tribes) will receive fees tied to high-voltage transmission projects and will be consulted during project planning and permitting.
- Transmission developers and clean energy project developers — Transmission developers and independent power producers will have new opportunities to partner with the authority on projects and must meet labor standards for construction work.
- Electrical workers and apprentices — Workers in the electrical trades will benefit from labor protections requiring use of apprentices and prevailing wages on projects supported by the authority.
- Electric ratepayers and consumers — Ratepayers and consumers may benefit from improved reliability, lower long-term electricity costs, and access to more clean energy, though short-term costs could increase due to infrastructure investments.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for benefits
Potential Benefits (5)
By creating a centralized authority to coordinate grid modernization and prioritize projects that improve reliability during extreme weather, the bill aims to reduce blackout risk for all residents—especially vulnerable populations during heat waves, cold snaps, or wildfires.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 5(2)(a), Sec. 5(2)(d), Sec. 6(13)Mandates use of registered apprentices and prevailing wages on all authority-supported construction and maintenance work, directly benefiting electrical workers and apprentices through job quality, wage security, and pathway to skilled employment.
Business & EmploymentPeopleRef: Sec. 7Establishes a Tribal Clean Energy Partnership Work Group with a sunset date to develop frameworks for tribal participation in clean energy development—including joint ownership and financing pathways—potentially increasing tribal revenue, self-determination, and access to clean energy jobs.
Local GovernmentPeopleRef: Sec. 8Requires the authority to prioritize partnerships on projects that increase access to renewable energy, serve multiple utility territories, or would not otherwise be built—reducing risk that only profitable, utility-led projects get built and expanding clean energy access for ratepayers across service boundaries.
Business & EmploymentPeopleRef: Sec. 5(2)(a), Sec. 5(2)(c), Sec. 6(13)Creates two dedicated state accounts—operating and capital—for transmission projects, funded by fees, federal grants, and private donations, reducing reliance on general fund appropriations and enabling long-term, stable financing for grid upgrades without new ongoing state debt.
FinancialPeopleRef: Sec. 9 & Sec. 10
Potential Concerns (5)
Mandates use of unionized electrical workers and prevailing wages on authority-supported projects may increase labor costs for some transmission developers, potentially reducing the number of projects pursued by smaller or non-union contractors.
Business & EmploymentLean industryRef: Sec. 6(11)(a) & Sec. 7Local investment commitment fees will be distributed to counties, cities, and tribes, but the fee structure is undefined in statute and will be set by rule—raising risk that fees could be set low or allocation formulas could favor wealthier jurisdictions, reducing net benefit to lower-income communities.
Local GovernmentIndustryRef: Sec. 6(13) & Sec. 10Confidentiality provisions for “critical energy infrastructure information” may overly restrict public access to safety-relevant data about grid vulnerabilities, undermining community preparedness and oversight of infrastructure that affects public safety.
Public SafetyIndustryRef: Sec. 11(1)The authority may own transmission facilities temporarily, but must develop a divestment plan—this creates long-term risk that the state could end up owning infrastructure at the expense of ratepayers if projects fail to attract private partners, potentially requiring public subsidies or rate increases.
Business & EmploymentIndustryRef: Sec. 5(2)(a) & Sec. 6(10)(b)Prioritization of “nonwire alternatives” is vague and may not reduce costs for consumers if the authority opts for more expensive transmission upgrades instead of demand-side or distributed solutions, especially if utilities dominate project proposals.
Business & EmploymentLean industryRef: Sec. 5(2)(c)
Who Is Most Affected
Electric utilities (especially investor-owned) will be required to collaborate with the authority and may face new partnership obligations and fee structures. While they may benefit from shared infrastructure costs, they also face increased regulatory coordination and potential loss of control over siting decisions.
Local governments and tribes will receive fees tied to high-voltage projects and gain formal consultation roles, but the fee structure and allocation formula are undefined in statute, leaving them vulnerable to inequitable distribution if rules favor wealthier jurisdictions or exclude low-income areas.
Transmission and clean energy developers gain new partnership opportunities with the state authority, but must comply with labor standards requiring apprentices and prevailing wages—raising costs for non-union firms but creating pathways for unionized firms and skilled workers.
Electrical workers and apprentices benefit from guaranteed use of apprentices and prevailing wages on authority-supported projects, improving job quality, wage security, and career pathways—especially for unionized workers.
Ratepayers may benefit from improved reliability, reduced long-term electricity costs from access to cheaper renewables, and wildfire mitigation—but short-term infrastructure investments could raise rates if projects are mismanaged or overbuilt.