Seabrooke Renewable Energy Facility - FAQ's

*Please note that this project is currently in a conceptual design phase. All information and details provided on this website are subject to change until the project design is final.

 

Seabrooke Renewable Energy Facility

Frequently Asked Questions

 

What is the proposed Seabrooke Renewable Energy Facility?

The proposed Seabrooke Renewable Energy Facility is a 218 W simple-cycle turbine that can provide continuous power for up to 72 hours for approximately 200,000 homes using onsite biofuel storage. Operating using regionally produced renewable biofuels, it will run only during periods of peak demand, such as extreme weather or critical events that threaten the reliability and stability of the power grid. It will run no more than 470 hours per year. 

Why do we need this type of facility?

Seabrooke Renewable Energy Facility will provide vital local and regional energy reliability and security:

     Energy Reliability

Experts predict Washington State will soon face the risk of brownouts due to increasing demand for electricity combined with retiring large amounts of coal-fired generation and increasing reliance on intermittent generation such as wind and solar. This project helps ensure that the region will be supported by sufficient reliable generation capacity to prevent brown outs while also meeting the State’s renewable energy goals.

     Energy Security

The Kitsap Peninsula is home to critical infrastructure, including municipal and tribal facilities and national security interests, that are vulnerable to energy shortfalls. The regional population is growing, and consumers increasingly rely on electric power for vehicles and heating/cooling (e.g. heat pumps).  The Peninsula also faces transmission reliability challenges because it is fed entirely by a single transmission corridor.  This project will help meet the long-term goal of providing backup options in case the existing transmission corridor is damaged.

By improving the Kitsap Peninsula’s energy reliability and security, this facility will lay a strong foundation for local residents, cities, tribes and our economy.

How will this facility support Washington State’s transition to clean energy? 

The Washington Clean Energy Act, passed in 2019, requires the state’s electricity supply to be free of greenhouse gas emissions by 2045. The Seabrooke Renewable Energy Facility will play an important role in supporting both the retirement of fossil fuel-fired resources and increasing use of intermittent renewable energy. Because clean energy sources such as wind and solar provide intermittent power, backup options such as the Seabrooke Renewable Energy Facility will be critical to providing power when the renewable energy plants are unable to meet system needs.

Why aren't we developing battery facilities instead?

The transition to a zero-carbon power grid will require multiple options for providing firm, dispatchable power to replace fossil fuels, including battery storage facilities and reserve generating stations like the Seabrooke Renewable Energy Facility that can provide continuous power for multiple days. Batteries are effective for typical daily demand peaks of 2-4 hours. However, the Pacific Northwest faces novel challenges because of its heavy reliance on hydroelectricity. We run the risk of running short during cold snaps in a drought year, especially if the wind and solar resources are not producing at full output.  The Kitsap Peninsula also has greater need for longer duration backup power if key parts of the transmission system fail, which could require weeks or months to repair.

What about other energy sources such as solar, wind, hydrogen, or energy efficiency?

Renewable technologies such as solar, wind, hydrogen, and energy efficiency are being pursued aggressively in every corner of the state to ensure we can successfully transition to a carbon-free energy future. The Seabrooke Renewable Energy Facility will complement (not compete with) these projects by providing firm, dispatchable power to ensure electricity is available during periods of extreme weather, drought, etc., when renewable sources may run well below capacity. Local utilities seek to procure a broad range of clean energy resources to meet the need for reliable clean energy.  If selected, this facility will be part of a portfolio of clean energy solutions that will power our future grid.  Relevant background and other documents can be found in the Resources section of the seabrookerenewable.com website.

Where will the proposed facility be sited?

The Seabrooke Renewable Energy Facility will be sited on Kitsap Quarry’s fill site, which is a remote and secluded location just south of the Kitsap Quarry scale office.

Why this location?

This location was carefully chosen to improve the reliability of Kitsap County’s power grid. The project developer researched many different locations in Kitsap County before approaching Ueland Tree Farm about siting the facility on its property. There are several key factors that favor this site over others, including:

·         Central location in Kitsap County

·         Existing key infrastructure such as PSE & BPA power transmission lines, water lines, and industrial roads

·         Proximity to a major local biofuel producer

·         Available & sizeable industrial parcel which is already disturbed

·         Visual isolation from the surrounding community

How close is the project to the nearest home or business?

The closest residential home is about 2,200 feet away from the proposed facility, while UPS is the closest business not on Ueland Tree Farm property at roughly 3,400 feet away.

What will the noise impact be for the local community?

The noise impact to surrounding areas will be minimal and will only occur when the plant is running to provide essential power to the local grid (25 - 470 hours per year). The project will meet all local noise requirements. Other similar and even larger facilities have been tested to generate a maximum of 70 dB at the fence line, which is roughly the equivalent to an air conditioner.

How will the Seabrooke Renewable Energy Facility impact area truck traffic?

The facility will have a negligible impact (less than 1%) on truck traffic volumes along both SR-3 and Werner Road. Except in the case of emergencies, the facility will create no additional truck traffic along Archie Ave W, Kitsap Lake Road NW, Price Road NW, Northlake Way NW, or Kitsap Way.

 

How much additional traffic will there be on Kitsap Lake Road NW?

Trucks will not access the facility from Kitsap Lake Road. Employees and small service vehicles may use Kitsap Lake Road NW from time to time.

How much additional truck traffic will there be on Werner Road?

Once the facility is operating, approximately 100 tanker trucks of fuel will be required in a typical year, or one every 3.5 days on average. It will be greater in times of extraordinary need, of course, but in those cases the increased activity will directly contribute to preventing rolling blackouts. Preliminary estimates suggest the facility will increase average truck volumes on Werner Road by less than 1% and overall vehicle traffic on Werner Road by even less.

There will be additional traffic during the construction phase, but it will be temporary. The construction timetable will be finalized once the permitting process is completed.

When will traffic occur?

Fuel tanker traffic will occur sporadically because the plant typically will operate less than 5% of the time based on regional power grid conditions. Typically, the fuel tank will be refilled in the autumn with the plant operating during severe cold snaps, heat waves, or emergencies. Following such an event there are anticipated to be several fuel deliveries per day for a few days until the fuel tank is refilled.  The Seabrooke Renewable Energy Facility will have 4-6 full time employees who will likely commute on weekdays.

What are the biofuels made of and where will they come from?

Biofuels will be sourced from the Grays Harbor biorefinery, which uses waste cooking oil, food waste, soybean oil, and canola oil (all from North America) as the primary feedstocks. This facility is one of the largest of its kind in the country and has been operating for over a decade. This process provides economic support to Washington communities both in fuel production and to the farms who grow the feedstocks.

What is the difference between burning fossil fuel and biofuel when it comes to releasing/adding carbon emissions?

Biodiesel is an environmentally sustainable fuel because it is produced from plant-based feedstocks and food waste. In essence, biodiesel stores solar energy in a liquid form and is compatible with many engines and power generation technologies. A recent study by Argonne National Laboratory, Purdue University and the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture found that biodiesel reduces lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by up to 72 percent and lifecycle fossil fuel use by 80 percent compared with petroleum diesel. For every unit of fossil energy used to produce biodiesel, 3.5 units of renewable energy are returned, the best of any U.S. fuel. The Seabrooke Renewable Energy Facility will allow Washington State to reduce yearly CO2 emissions while improving grid reliability and providing a sorely needed source of reserve electricity supply.

Is biodiesel or renewable diesel dangerous?

Pure biodiesel contains no hazardous materials and is generally regarded as safe. According to standard Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for pure biodiesel, it:

·         Contains no hazardous materials.

·         Contains no chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer

·         Ingestion incidental to industrial exposure is not a hazard.

·         Prolonged or repeated skin contact is not likely to cause significant skin irritation

Unlike typical petroleum diesel, pure biodiesel contains no hazardous materials and is generally regarded as safe per the U.S. Dept. of Energy's Clean Cities Program. Several studies have found that biodiesel biodegrades substantially more rapidly than conventional diesel (90% biodegraded within 23 days). Fuel users in environmentally sensitive areas such as wetlands, marine environments, and national parks have taken advantage of this property by replacing toxic petroleum diesel with biodiesel.

What are the local community benefits from this facility?

The Seabrooke Renewable Energy Facility will significantly improve power system reliability and provide a sorely needed source of reserve electricity generation. All of Kitsap County’s residents, cities, tribes, businesses, and local national security interests will benefit from increased grid resiliency.  Recent blackout events in Texas and California highlight the importance of power system reliability. 

Kitsap County faces unique challenges for electricity transmission reliability because the region is fed by three major transmission lines that all share a common path, heightening the risk of simultaneous failure of multiple elements. The area’s growing population increasingly seeks to use electricity to replace motor vehicle fuels and as a substitute for natural gas in their homes (e.g., electric heat pumps), as well as to run home air conditioners more frequently and support a rapidly growing number of electronic devices.

Finally, this facility will create new jobs for the local workforce and generate millions of dollars in new revenue for the community. Millions will be spent locally on equipment, construction materials, labor, restaurants, hotels, etc. Property tax contributions will also be in the millions, generating new revenue for schools, roads, and other public services.

Will this project impact community access to trails on Ueland Tree Farm?

No. The Seabrooke Renewable Energy Facility will be over two miles south of the Lebers Lane trailhead and will not impact any marked trail on the tree farm.

Additional Information

If after reading these Frequently Asked Questions you have further questions, additional information is available on the seabrookerenewable.com website or by emailing info@seabrookerenewable.com.