On Friday, November 14, 2025, the Washington Pollution Control Hearings Board (PCHB) upheld ORCAA’s air permit to Pacific Northwest Renewal Energy (PNWRE) to establish a wood pellet manufacturing facility in Hoquiam, Washington.
The Notice of Construction (NOC) permit issued by ORCAA on May 14, 2024, was appealed to the PCHB on June 13, 2024. After months of deliberation, the board found that ORCAA’s permit approval met the requirements of both the federal Clean Air Act and Washington’s Clean Air Act. ORCAA’s Final Determination and Order of Approval for NOC application 23NOC1606 are affirmed.
ORCAA applauds this outcome. Agency staff expended significant time and resources on this permit, like all permits issued by the agency, to ensure clean air standards are met or exceeded.
“Our permit writers are dedicated to ensuring the permits issued by ORCAA protect air quality for our communities,” said Jeff Johnston, ORCAA’s Executive Director. “The PCHB ruling on this action affirms ORCAA’s thorough and accurate review of PNWRE’s application, and the solid basis for the decisions we made in issuing the permit.”
The ruling by PCHB, found here, can be appealed by the original appellants through the court system.
