As executive secretary of the Washington State Building & Construction Trades Council, I was pleased to learn that the Goldendale Energy Storage Project’s Section 401 water quality certification was upheld on appeal. Years in the making, this project will provide a critical source of clean energy while creating thousands of good-paying jobs.
Washington needs family-wage jobs, and this infrastructure project promises 3,000 skilled labor jobs — providing transformative opportunities for workers, including many young people who will be given the opportunity to become apprentices in the construction trades. These apprentices could start and complete their training all on a single project, gaining valuable experience and a stepping stone to higher-wage jobs in the future.
Projects like Goldendale are vital to ensuring that Washington’s workforce and residents reap the benefits of the clean-energy transition — rather than relying on imported power. This isn’t just an energy project; it’s an investment in Washington’s future. Now is the time to get it built.
