A subsidiary of a business called BrightNight LLC has proposed a battery energy storage system (BESS) in south Thurston County near the town of Bucoda, according to Thurston County information.
“The BESS will provide electrical grid reliability and help integrate renewable energy into the grid,” a project description reads.
The 228,000-square-foot proposal is set for a pre-submission meeting at 11 a.m. Feb. 13, the county information shows. Pre-submission meetings are designed to provide developers with information about what local government will expect of their projects.
According to the project description, the site, proposed between Bucoda in Thurston County and Centralia in Lewis County, will have 157 Tesla lithium-ion batteries with a total energy storage capacity of 508 megawatt hours.
“The project will be on an approximately 5.2-acre fenced site currently used for forestry,” the description reads. “The project will include construction of two (power) substations, an access road, on-site roads, parking, a 1,900-square-foot warehouse, stormwater basins and installation of a trailer.”
The whole project also will tie-in to adjacent power transmission lines, according to the proposal. One of those substations would be built for Puget Sound Energy.
The battery energy storage system will operate 24 hours per day and seven days a week, but is expected to employ 3 to 5 people for operations and maintenance.
“Staff would visit the site as needed,” the description reads.
“It is anticipated that every five years BrightNight would conduct a large maintenance event that would involve a small team of staff to perform upgrades to the facility over a period of 1-2 months.”
The location of the proposed battery energy storage system between Bucoda in Thurston County and Centralia in Lewis County. Thurston County Courtesy
Downtown food truck to close
Action Sandwiches, which operates out of a food truck near Three Magnets Brewing in downtown Olympia, will be out of action later this month, the owner announced on Facebook.
“When I first decided to take this leap of faith, I did so with the knowledge and wherewithal that restaurants fail every day,” he wrote. “I wasn’t going in blindly and knew what I was getting myself into.
“It’s simple economics,” he wrote. “More going out than what is coming in. Rising prices of food and energy cutting into the bottom line. Starting with very low capital in the beginning as well. It all adds up fast.”
The owner also took a moment to say thank you.
“To Three Magnets Brewery, Nate and Sara, for reaching out to me so long ago and offering your location to this newbie. Last but certainly not least... the customers and followers of Action Sandwiches.
“Serving you has been an honor and a privilege,” he wrote. “You have no idea how happy it made me to provide you creations that I made, and to hear the positive responses.”
Want to eat an Action Sandwich before it closes? You still can. The last day of business is Jan. 30, according to the post.
Action Sandwiches’ food truck owner Mark Place is excited about opening soon his new location just outside of the Three Magnets Brewing Co. in downtown Olympia. Steve Bloom The Olympian
Lacey getting a new restaurant
A coming soon sign at the Hogum Bay Town Center in Lacey shows that Cooper’s Food and Drink, which has a location in Tacoma, is coming to the growing commercial center.
A check of the space shows that it’s still under construction.
Cooper’s Food and Drink will join other restaurants in the area, such as Super Chix, local ice cream shop Humble Cow, and 23 Kitchens, the pickleball and restaurant complex.
The coming soon sign for Cooper’s Food and Drink at Hogum Bay Town Center in Lacey. rboone@theolympian.com Rolf Boone
Florist expands for Valentine’s Day rush
Artistry in Flowers, a longtime floral design shop at the corner of Cleveland Avenue and North Street in Olympia, is planning to expand to meet Valentine’s Day demand.
The shop “will hire nine additional staff members, rent additional delivery vehicles, and bring in a refrigerated trailer to accommodate over 5,000 extra roses for the holiday rush,” the business announced in a news release.
“This temporary expansion represents our largest Valentine’s Day preparation to date,” said owner Michelle Weiks.
“The expansion includes five delivery drivers and four in-house employees, all locally hired,” the release reads. “The shop is also partnering with local equipment rental companies for additional delivery vans and a refrigerated trailer to properly store the increased inventory of 5,400 roses for Valentine’s Day arrangements.”
Artistry in Flowers/ Tumwater Jan. 23, 2025 photo Steve Bloom The Olympian
Culinary job training program launched
The ASHHO Cultural Community Center in Tumwater is launching a Culinary & Hospitality Skills Job Training Program, a paid, 12-week training initiative designed to equip individuals from marginalized communities with the skills, confidence, and resources needed to excel in the culinary and hospitality industries, the organization announced.
“The program integrates hands-on training, classroom education, mental health support, and career placement services to address systemic barriers to employment,” the news release reads.
The application deadline is Feb. 3 and the program begins Feb. 10. ASHHO encourages interested individuals to attend one of two informational meetings to learn more about the program.
If you know of a retailer, restaurant, coffee shop or other business that is opening, closing, expanding, remodeling, or changing its focus, send an email to reporter Rolf Boone at rboone@theolympian.com.
Rolf has worked at The Olympian since August 2005. He covers breaking news, the city of Lacey and business for the paper. Rolf graduated from The Evergreen State College in 1990.Support my work with a digital subscription
