Updates

What we’ve published, who we’ve contacted, and what’s happened. Most recent first.

March 25, 2026

Updated SEPA comment guide to clarify both paths to victory: a full EIS (Determination of Significance) that forces an alternatives analysis, or an MDNS conditioned on non-thermal-runaway battery chemistry like sodium-ion. Either outcome gets the batteries changed.
Published recorded land deal analysis for all 6 project parcels. Jupiter Power is using two legal entities: Snoqualmie Energy Storage LLC for the main parcel and Cascadia Ridge Resiliency LLC for the surrounding residential parcels. A sixth parcel (5 vacant acres with a transmission line easement) has been under option since March 2024 but was not in the original permit application. Site and environment.
Sent follow-up email to Jupiter Power. Third email, second follow-up. 16 questions across three emails since March 13 with zero response.
Recruiting credentialed experts for SEPA comment tracks: environmental engineer (groundwater/contamination), family physician (health/air quality), mechanical engineer (failure analysis), financial advisor (economic impact).
Sent letters to Snoqualmie Valley School District board and Snoqualmie Valley Hospital board requesting they participate in SEPA review. SVSD board responded the same day.

Published SEPA comment guide with all 9 checklist elements relevant to this project, guidance on what makes a comment effective, and what to avoid. How to write a SEPA comment.
Contacted opposition groups fighting Jupiter Power’s Blackberry Grove project in Hillsboro, OR and the Kingfisher BESS in Covington, WA. Waiting for responses.
Valley Record covered the community opposition, reporting on the March 17 open house and the city’s three news releases.

Snoqualmie City Council cleared its regular agenda to take public comment on the BESS. Approximately 35-40 residents spoke over two hours. The room exceeded fire code capacity. Speakers included a seismologist, mechanical engineer, family physician, financial advisor, and environmental justice advocate. Full summary.
Sent follow-up letter to Snoqualmie City Council asking for a resolution, formal SEPA participation, annexation evaluation, and ESF #16 update.
Identified a codification gap in Ordinance 19824: an amendment requiring a community meeting before permitting was drafted but never adopted. Perry’s office confirmed the amendment was never offered at vote. Jupiter Power’s March 17 open house was voluntary, as they stated.

Jupiter Power held a community open house at The Club at Snoqualmie Ridge. Turnout exceeded the venue’s capacity. Jupiter Power’s presentation focused on generic BESS safety statistics and did not address battery chemistry alternatives, the company’s own sodium-ion investments, or site-specific environmental risks.
KOMO News covered the event.
Launched cascadiaridgebess.org with project overview, fire risk analysis, battery technology comparison, permitting status, FAQ, and take action page.
Sent letter to Councilmember Sarah Perry proposing ordinance amendments: chemistry alternatives in Condition 29, scaled financial responsibility, seismic risk assessment.
Sent email to Eastside Fire & Rescue (Chief Aho) with questions about pre-incident planning, training, and response capacity. No response as of March 25.

Sent 11 questions to Jupiter Power (Gage Fuller, cascadiaridge@jupiterpower.io) about battery chemistry, setbacks, fire suppression, noise, decommissioning, and environmental monitoring. No response.
Sent letter to Councilmember Sarah Perry about public records access for the Critical Areas Designation. Perry’s office escalated to the Department of Local Services. King County delivered the CAD report the same day (2-hour turnaround).
Critical Areas Designation (CADS25-0076) confirmed: Fisher Creek (fish-bearing) runs through the parcel, Category III wetland with 150-ft buffer, steep slope hazard, unmapped floodplain. King County classified the project as high-impact. Site and environment.
Notified the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe about the proposed facility adjacent to their land. No response.
Sent letter to the City of Snoqualmie (Mayor, Council, Planning Commission) about the governance gap and annexation. Councilmember Dan Murphy responded the same day and spoke with us for 35 minutes.