The results are in.
By: Simone Anter, Senior Attorney & Hanford Program Director
In 2024, Columbia Riverkeeper requested documentation about proposals related to the U.S. Dept. of Energy (“Energy”) “Cleanup to Clean Energy Initiative” (“Initiative”) at the Hanford Nuclear Site, a controversial plan to lease 19,000 acres of land at Hanford for “clean energy” development. Energy’s failure to reply to the FOIA left critical questions unanswered—about experimental new nuclear energy projects, cleanup delays, and the absence of community engagement—our lawsuit sought to protect the public’s right to know what’s happening at one of the most toxic sites in the Western Hemisphere.
Now, more than two years since the original records request, a court has forced Energy to release the documents.
The results? Of the development proposals submitted in 2024, only one contained a nuclear energy feasibility evaluation in conjunction with a solar project. Submitted by Energy Northwest, the proposal included evaluating siting Small Modular Nuclear Reactors (“SMNR”) on land adjacent to the Columbia Generating Station, the Pacific Northwest’s only operating nuclear power plant. While not new information, the documents did reveal that Energy Northwest entered into an agreement with the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) to perform the Large Generator Interconnection Process and that Energy Northwest established regular meetings with Energy’s Richland office to discuss project status including a lease revision.
These details prove essential for Columbia Riverkeeper and the public to watchdog potential nuclear development onsite.
The Cleanup to Clean Energy Initiative
The Initiative proposes to lease 30 square miles (19,000 acres) at Hanford for clean energy development and while renewable energy is something that Riverkeeper is generally supportive of, there is concern around ensuring that this transition is socially just and that the present environmental concerns in the area will be adequately addressed and prioritized. The documents requested under FOIA are essential to ensure that cleanup at Hanford is being prioritized and Energy is complying with the mandated process and consulting with affected Tribes. The 2025 lawsuit sought information on whether or not the Initiative may be used to accept new nuclear development at the Hanford site, which is already devastated with hazardous nuclear waste.
Background
Columbia Riverkeeper filed the initial FOIA request in June of 2024, seeking documents related to the Initiative at Hanford. In over a year, Energy never determined whether or not they would comply with the request. This inaction from Energy violated FOIA, which mandates that agencies have 20 days to determine whether they will comply with a request made under FOIA. In 2025, Columbia Riverkeeper filed a lawsuit to force the government to release the documents. In 2026, Columbia Riverkeeper finally received the requested documents.
FOIA
The purpose of FOIA is to ensure public access to records from federal agencies. The current administration, however, aims for governmental opacity and secrecy, rather than transparency. Transparency is essential not only for the cleanup of Hanford, but also for effective stakeholder engagement and understanding. Access to these documents will allow for better informed decisionmaking and public participation. It also allows for agencies to be held accountable for their actions.
Learn more about the cleanup at the most toxic site in the U.S.