Battery Storage Is a Health Issue: What’s Happening Across Washington

Image courtesy of the Washington State Department of Ecology

Across Washington state, the shift toward clean, resilient energy is moving from high-level climate goals to real, local policy decisions. At the heart of this transition are Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS).

Washington's transition to a clean energy system does not end with building more wind and solar power. The state also needs ways to store that energy and deliver it when people need it most. By storing excess clean energy generated from wind and solar and dispatching it when demand peaks, BESS allows communities to build a stable, fossil-fuel-free grid.

After unanimously passing a Solar and BESS ordinance in Pierce County last week, advocates are continuing to rack up wins for renewable energy across Washington. Here’s an update on where BESS policy currently stands, why health advocates are championing these projects, and how WPSR members are driving progress.

What’s Going On? The BESS Policy Landscape

Local governments and state agencies are establishing rules for how and where battery storage projects are built. Several important BESS policy processes are underway across Washington:

• Pierce County (Passed!): On September 15, 2026, the Pierce County Council unanimously passed the updated Solar & BESS Ordinance! The process included hours of public testimony and 82 letters of support. The ordinance establishes county regulations for battery energy storage facilities while implementing policies supporting renewable and distributed energy.

• Thurston County: The proposed Centralia Project, remains the subject of local review and public proceedings. The project would provide 127 megawatts of power with 508 megawatt-hours of storage on an approximately 84-acre site near Centralia. Thurston County held public hearings in September concerning the project's SEPA determination and special-use permit.

• City of Sumner (BESS 2.0 Ordinance): Sumner has been developing a new zoning framework for BESS that establishes different requirements based on the scale of the facility. The proposed framework covers small-, mid-, and large-scale systems and regulates them according to zoning districts and surrounding land uses.

• Washington Department of Ecology (Statewide PEIS): The department is studying stand-alone utility-scale lithium-ion BESS generally across Washington, with the goal of identifying potential environmental impacts and mitigation measures. They have initiated a process for public scoping comments which are open through October 1, 2026. Comments will shape how environmental and health impacts are evaluated across Washington.

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Why Does WPSR Care? A Public Health Imperative

BESS facilities store electricity when generation is high and discharge it when demand rises or renewable generation falls. That flexibility can help integrate renewable energy, strengthen the electric grid, and reduce reliance on fossil-fuel generation.

For WPSR, battery storage is not simply an energy technology issue. It is a public health issue.

• Combating the Climate Crisis: Rapidly decarbonizing the grid is essential to slowing global warming and mitigating the severe public health impacts of climate change. BESS eliminates the intermittency barrier of renewable energy, allowing solar and wind to power our communities 24/7.

• Cleaner air: Peak electricity demand is often met by fossil-fuel "peaker plants," which release heavy loads of particulate matter (PM2.5​), nitrogen oxides (NOx​), and other toxic pollutants. Replacing peaker plants with clean battery storage can improve regional air quality and reduces asthma, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory illness.

• A more resilient electric grid: Extreme weather events increasingly strain our electrical grid. Battery storage buffers local grids against power outages that threaten hospital operations and disrupt access to medical equipment and services. At home, an outage can affect people who depend on electricity for oxygen concentrators, refrigerated medications, mobility equipment, heating, cooling, and other essential needs. Ecology also identifies grid support and emergency power among the potential benefits of BESS.

Washington cannot fully decarbonize its electricity system simply by adding renewable generation. Wind and solar generation vary over time, while electricity demand does not. Energy storage can help bridge that gap by shifting electricity from periods when renewable generation is abundant to periods when electricity is needed. That makes storage an important piece of reducing reliance on fossil-fuel generation and building a cleaner energy system.

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What is WPSR doing and what can you do?

WPSR volunteers have been working alongside the Yes2BESS Coalition to bring health expertise into these local and statewide policy discussions.

That work has included:

• Providing expert testimony at county council and planning commission hearings.

• Mobilizing health professionals and community members to submit letters of support.

• Supporting grassroots outreach in Pierce County, Thurston County, and Sumner.

• Participating in coalition discussions about responsible BESS policy.

• Engaging in the Washington Department of Ecology's statewide PEIS scoping process.

Health professionals have an important role to play in these conversations. Community decisions about energy infrastructure ultimately affect the conditions in which people live, work, receive medical care, and recover from emergencies. Your continued advocacy is needed:

1. Comment on Ecology's statewide BESS PEIS. Ecology is accepting comments on the scoping document through October 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. The agency is asking the public to help identify what impacts should be studied and how those impacts can be avoided, reduced, or mitigated.

2. Attend the Yes2BESS Webinar Series: Join the upcoming educational sessions starting October 5, 2026, to learn more about energy storage basics, safety standards, and local organizing strategies. Visit yes2besswa.org

3. Take Action in Your Community: If you live in Thurston County or the City of Sumner, reach out to your local decision-makers or sign up to testify at upcoming hearings.

4. Join the WPSR Climate & Health Task Force: Stay involved in ongoing clean energy advocacy by connecting with WPSR's health advocate network.

5. Sign the statewide Yes2BESS petition. Adding your voice can help demonstrate public support for responsible battery storage as Washington builds a cleaner and more resilient electricity system.

Washington's transition away from fossil fuels will require more than replacing one power source with another. It will require an energy system that is cleaner, more resilient, and capable of protecting people during the increasingly difficult conditions created by climate change. Battery storage is one part of that system. WPSR will continue working with the Yes2BESS Coalition to bring the voices of health professionals into these conversations and advocate for an energy system that protects public health, strengthens resilience, and reduces reliance on fossil fuels.

Yakima County Lifts Solar Moratorium, Opening Door to Clean Energy Development

What This Means for Climate and Health in Washington

By Alee Perkins, MD

In 2022, Yakima County initiated a freeze on the development of new solar facilities in the area.  In the years since, the Yakima community has been debating whether to lift the moratorium as a part of a long running debate over land use, energy development, and the direction of the county’s agriculture.  The moratorium was initially supposed to last 6 months, but was finally lifted just this past week.  After months of deliberation, the Board of County Commissioners has adopted a new solar ordinance, effectively reopening the door to utility-scale solar projects while attempting to balance competing priorities.

Yakima County’s moratorium on new solar development had stalled projects and created uncertainty for landowners, developers, and policymakers alike. With its repeal, the county replaced a blanket restriction with a framework intended to guide where and how solar can move forward. According to the Yakima Herald-Republic, the newly approved ordinance introduces a structured approach to siting solar facilities, with an emphasis on agricultural preservation and long-term land stewardship.

At the heart of the discussion was the tension between protecting high-value agricultural land while expanding renewable energy infrastructure.  Out of three county commissioners, two voted in support of lifting the moratorium.  Commissioners Curtis and Linde were in support, largely because of the economic flexibility installation of solar energy would provide to farmers in the region.  Commissioner McKinney voted against, citing legal interpretations of Washington’s Growth Management Act and concern that the proposal could violate the GMA.  

Local level advocacy was pivotal in bringing this vote forward.  Yakima residents, members of the Yakima County 350 Advocacy group, local physicians, and local landowners worked together to provide testimony, attend commissioner hearings, write petitions, and engage volunteers in helping lift the moratorium.  With the ordinance now in place, project proposals will be put forward starting in 9 weeks.  

By lifting the moratorium and adopting a detailed ordinance, Yakima County has positioned itself to take advantage of the benefits solar energy can bring when placed on agricultural land.  This may prove a lucrative move for farmers as climatic conditions become more unstable and the demand for clean energy increases.  This is undeniably a great step forward in our state’s ability to transition away from carbon intensive energy sources and towards clean electricity.

Health Groups Urge Governor Ferguson to Address Microplastics Health Crisis

July 22, 2025 - Seattle, WA

Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility (WPSR) joined over 50 Washington environmental, climate, and public health groups in calling on Governor Ferguson to petition the federal government to monitor microplastics in our drinking water. The coalition, led by Food & Water Watch, is urging the Governor to leverage a provision in the Safe Drinking Water Act that requires EPA action when seven governors petition for monitoring of a specific contaminant.

Growing Health Evidence Demands Action

Emerging research reveals that microplastics pose serious threats to human health. These tiny plastic particles - smaller than 5 millimeters - have been detected throughout the human body, including in vital organs.

"Microplastics are contributing to an increased burden of disease in our state and across the country," said Adam Lough, MHA, of WPSR’s Climate and Health Task Force. "That increase in disease burden drives up the cost of healthcare for all players in the industry. Tracking microplastic contamination in our water is a necessary first step in limiting exposure. Governor Ferguson can help us lead the nation in doing so with this effort."

Recent scientific studies have linked microplastics exposure to multiple health concerns:

• Cardiovascular damage: Research published in the New England Journal of Medicine found microplastics in arterial plaques and linked their presence to increased risk of heart attacks and strokes

• Organ infiltration: Studies have detected microplastics in the kidney, liver, brain, and placental tissue

• Systemic inflammation: Laboratory studies show microplastics can trigger oxidative stress and inflammatory responses throughout the body

• Endocrine disruption: The chemical additives in microplastics may interfere with hormone function

Climate and Health Connection

The microplastics crisis is intrinsically linked to climate change. Approximately 98% of single-use plastic is made from petrochemicals derived from oil and gas, making plastic production a significant driver of greenhouse gas emissions. As plastic waste accumulates in the environment, it breaks down into microplastics that contaminate water, air, and food systems.

"This is both a public health emergency and a climate crisis," Lough noted. "By addressing microplastics, we're tackling two of the most pressing challenges facing our generation."

Washington Waters Already Contaminated

Local research confirms widespread microplastic contamination in Washington's waterways:

• Puget Soundkeeper found microplastics in all 69 water samples collected across Puget Sound between 2019-2020, with an average of 13 particles per sample

• University of Washington research documented plastic microfibers as common on Puget Sound beaches

• Seattle Aquarium studies revealed microplastics pollution along Seattle's waterfront

What is WPSR doing to address microplastics?

We're seeing the early warning signs of a public health crisis. Microplastics represent a new class of environmental health threat that requires immediate attention. We cannot wait for the health consequences to fully manifest before taking action.

We’re working with our partners at Food and Water Watch on letters like this, to ensure that Washington leads the way on calling for federal action in monitoring microplastics in our drinking water. Currently, microplastics remain unregulated and unmonitored at the federal level, despite their ubiquitous presence in drinking water systems nationwide. California recently became the first state to require microplastics testing, but comprehensive federal oversight is essential to protect public health.

The petition leverages a rarely-used provision in the Safe Drinking Water Act: when seven governors petition the EPA to monitor a specific contaminant, the agency must add it to the national monitoring list. This would be the first step toward eventual federal regulation of microplastics in drinking water.

WPSR is also conducting its own learning and work. Interested in helping us tackle the health and climate impacts of microplastics? Sign-up for WPSR’s climate updates and consider joining our microplastics and waste working group, which meets monthly to discuss these issues.

For more information about WPSR's work on environmental health issues, visit wpsr.org/climate.

Why heatwaves are a mental health emergency we must address

Larry Freeman, MD, McKenna Parnes PhD, and Robert Berley, PhD,  are mental health professionals who have been concerned about the emotional and psychological toll of climate change, and members of the Climate and Health Task Force at Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility.

With summer upon us, heat and smoke are once again looming threats. Among these threats is a quieter, equally as serious crisis: the mental and emotional impacts of our changing climate.

Climate change is driving a wave of emotional distress, especially among young people. A 2023 global survey found that over 85% of people around the world report some form of anxiety about climate change and their futures. The severity of distress increases as respondents indicate that they do not feel governments have addressed this problem effectively. Roughly two thirds of young adults report climate distress, but less than half of that group believes others share their fears - worsening feelings of helpless concern and isolation. A majority of adults over 30 worry about the emotional effects the younger generations will face. Chronic worry and feelings of isolation and powerlessness have not only psychological harms: physical health and interpersonal relationships suffer as well.

Even here in the Pacific Northwest where many don’t consider it to be “too hot”, excessive heat has specific mental health effects: irritability, anger and conflict; domestic violence and resultant PTSD incidents; apprehension and feeling trapped; sleep loss which undermines physical and psychological well-being. The groups most at risk, i.e., young people, outdoor workers, the elderly, and people without air conditioning deserve particular concern.

We see elderly patients who become housebound during heatwaves, developing depression from isolation. We hear stories of workers, of whom mom or dad is one, at risk in the hot weather. Children share their concerns about the future, seeing an orange sky and worrying that the apocalypse is happening. Outdoor workers wrestle with the decisions between safety and a paycheck.

A 2022 study in Environment International shows for every 1 degree celsius increase in temperature, emergency psychiatric visits increase and heat-related mental health deaths increase by 2.2%. Domestic violence incidents spike during these times.

For those already struggling with climate anxiety, extreme heat becomes confirmation that their fears are materializing. The combination creates a dangerous spiral: heat worsens mental health, while climate anxiety makes each heat event more traumatic. People taking psychiatric medicines frequently have even greater susceptibility to heat related physical health complications.

The “heat dome” we experienced in 2021 will happen again. How will we react? Or most importantly, how will we prepare? We cannot let another summer pass without acknowledging this emergency. The mental health impacts of climate emergencies need more attention.

We must treat this like the public health crisis it is. Mental health considerations must be built into every layer of our emergency response.

Ensuring mental health considerations in emergency preparedness is no longer a “nice to have”,  but a necessity. We call upon physicians, hospitals, counselors, schools, governments, religious leaders, and businesses to accept their responsibility and lead us through this crisis. When communities prepare for heat emergencies together, they build physical safety and psychological resilience.

We’re obliged to consider things we might not have considered. For example, cooling schools isn’t just about keeping a school cool, but reducing the emotional burden on children, teachers, and caregivers. Employers must adjust the expectations of workers during heatwaves. 

Governments have a significant role to play. Expanding urban tree canopy keeps those in public spaces cool, and increasing access to greenspace has significant benefits for children’s mental health. Developing heat mitigations plans will equip hospitals and emergency department with the funding and processes they need to save lives during heat crises. Buildings - both new and old - must equip the cooling infrastructure they need to protect those most vulnerable.

Being upset about the climate means one has the courage to pay attention and care appropriately. Having these concerns isn’t so-called “climate hypochondriasis”. We are facing a real crisis that needs action. The good news is that action itself heals. Community efforts to address climate change provide us the sense of agency and connection that counters climate anxiety.

Health Professionals Urge Washington’s Congressional Delegation to Support Climate and Health

WPSR is calling on Washington’s Senators and Representatives to cosponsor federal legislation recognizing climate change as public health

SEATTLE, WA — This week, members of Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility (WPSR) signed onto this letter, requesting the state's entire congressional delegation to cosponsor, S.318, a bipartisan resolution recognizing climate change as a growing threat to public health and demanding coordinated federal action to protect communities.

The resolution, introduced by Senator Edward Markey (D-MA) and Representative Nanette Barragán (D-CA), currently has no cosponsors from Washington state despite the state's leadership on climate issues and growing health impacts from extreme weather events.

"As health professionals on the front lines, we witness daily the mounting health impacts of climate change in Washington communities," said Dr. Chris Covert Bowlds, WPSR Climate and Health Task Force Co-Chair. "From record-breaking heat domes causing cardiovascular emergencies to wildfire smoke triggering life threatening lung clots and asthma attacks, climate change is already a health crisis in our state."

Washington has experienced increasingly severe climate-related health threats in recent years, including deadly heat events, prolonged wildfire smoke episodes that disrupt healthcare access, and expanding vector-borne diseases as temperatures rise. The health impacts fall disproportionately on children, pregnant women, communities of color, low-income neighborhoods, tribal nations, outdoor workers, and people with disabilities and chronic conditions.

In a letter sent to all 12 members of Washington's congressional delegation, WPSR emphasized that the resolution calls for exactly the type of coordinated federal response a health crisis demands. The legislation urges the Department of Health and Human Services to lead a whole-of-government effort to strengthen health system climate resilience, close gaps in data collection, recognize the health sector's own environmental impact, and support frontline healthcare providers.

"Prevention is always preferable to treatment," the letter states. "While we will continue caring for patients suffering climate-related health impacts, we have a professional obligation to advocate for policies that prevent these harms in the first place."

The call for action comes as federal climate health programs face significant cuts, including the elimination of the Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Climate Change and Health Equity. The resolution has garnered endorsements from major medical organizations including the American College of Physicians and the American Public Health Association.

WPSR noted that climate disasters cause billions in damages nationwide but also translate directly into emergency room visits, respiratory distress, heat-related illnesses, and mental health crises in hospitals and clinics across Washington state.

"Your leadership is essential. This resolution would improve our ability to save the lives of patients we treat daily."

The organization offered to brief congressional offices on the specific climate health challenges facing Washington communities and how federal action can help protect patients and communities statewide.

About Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility: Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility (WPSR) is a 40-year-old, health professional-led advocacy organization working to create a healthy, just, peaceful and sustainable world. We take on the gravest current threats to human health and survival - nuclear weapons, economic inequity, and a climate crisis driven by dependence on fossil fuels. WPSR leverages the credible and trusted voice of healthcare professionals to educate the public, influence decision-makers, and promote public policies that support our mission.