The Impact of Zoning on the Siting of the Skagit Nuclear Power Project

The experience of the Puget Sound Power & Light Company in the siting of the Skagit Nuclear Power Project in Skagit County, Washington, has shown that local zoning can have a major impact on project planning and scheduling. Zoning was identified as an issue early, and resolution was eventually brought about after more than a one-year delay by the execution of a rezone contract. A part of the contract was an agreement between the Company and Skagit County specifying more than 40 provisions on which the rezone depended. This experience demonstrated that the achievement of earlier plant availability dates and the success of the “predesignated site” may well depend on early identification and resolution of such potential key problem issues as zoning.