Avangrid pulls solar farm proposal from sacred Badger Mountain after tribal push

Avangrid, a major renewable-energy developer in the Pacific Northwest, formally withdrew its permit request for a solar farm on Badger Mountain, a mountain that Indigenous nations regard as sacred. The project, which would have spanned both private and public parcels, faced criticism after a High Country News and one outlet's investigation found that Avangrid and consultant Tetra Tech left out crucial cultural and archaeological information from a state review.

State officials warned that the development could damage historic sites and disrupt ongoing ceremonial activities. Tribal representatives, such as Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation chair Cindy Marchand and Wenatchi Advisory Group vice chair Steven Wynecoop, praised the decision, noting the mountain’s importance for traditional food gathering and rituals. The state permitting council recorded the withdrawal and closed related financial arrangements, while the Department of Natural Resources said no new clean-energy proposals have been received for the public portion of the site.